With hopeful sadness...

River Valley Arts Alliance (RiVA) (Woodstock) - After a significant amount of
research over the past couple of years, RiVA decided to investigate new
options for an arts gallery and work space in Woodstock.
The cost, in time and in money, of renovating the space located at 702 Main
St. is too great for one growing organization to take on. RiVA and owners
Leland and Tegan Daugherty have nullified the lease agreement.
The support of the Daugherty's and the community has been overwhelming over
the past two years.
It's one of RiVA's key goals to have a community arts space up and running in
the near future.

The offical stuff

Just in case you thought we've quit, we haven't....we're currently in the process of creating certified structural drawings and a complete budget for phase one of the project, which will involve knocking out the wall and chimney on the ground floor as well as the creation of public washrooms.  We will need a building permit and the paperwork is part of that process. Our goal is to have the public gallery "functional, safe and clean" in time for Dooryard on August 11th.  We might make it, we might not, but the work will continue regardless. 

I will also be organizing a volunteer campaign to scrape and paint this Victorian beauty.  If you like to work and don't mind getting paint-y, keep your eyes and ears open for a call for volunteers.  When I have the staging and paint, you'll be hearing from me.  Meanwhile, plans for the Dooryard Arts Festival are looking fantastic so mark your calendars now.

energy efficiency and the arts unite in the TJ

http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/front/article/1021600

If we were gonna quit, we'd have done it already

Energy is high on the RiVA team right now and we're gearing up for Phase One of the project.  It will include gallery and washroom renovations, securing entrances, insulating and preparing for second floor tenants.  We had a great consultation with our house committee and seem to have a clear path on how to proceed.

We applied for our Charitable Tax Status yesterday, which means we should be able to write tax receipts for donations sometime this spring or summer.  The next steps will involve major fundraising and grant applications.  We accept cash, cheques, large donations and small, Canadian Tire money and volunteer help including tradespeople's services.  Now that red tape and construction plans are under control, money is the priority. 

We have a plan, we have met obstacles and revised the plan.  We've seen this building inside and out, we know what we're dealing with.  If we were gonna quit, we would have done it already.  Now we need the financial and moral support of community members to make it happen.  In 4 months, Woodstock could have its first-ever art gallery and performance space for the community.  Think about how 702 Main St. is going to change things.  How big can you dream?

Swag

GET 'ER DONE
702 Main Street
Silk-screened tee
$20

Limited supply, sizes m - xxl
All proceeds go directly to renovation costs.

riva@rivervalleyarts.net

Phase One

Amy, Kate, and I have been picking away at this blog for the better part of 15 months now. In that time we've experienced some pretty major road blocks.

Between the time -- in autumn of 2008 -- that we discovered that a good friend and supporter of ours owned an old run-down house in our hometown, and now -- really, really for real on the edge of truly tangible progress in turning that house into a community hub -- we've battled with logistics, plans, scope, and vision; signed an agreement to pay $3600 per year to make up for non-existent parking spaces; hosted the first, second, and third of many fund raising events to come; and agonized over the reconciliation of dream and reality.

In short: we've struggled.

We've struggled in part because of environment, in part because of attitudes. Mostly we've struggled because of precedent -- that is, there is none. Our informational resources are disparate, varied, and sometimes contradicting. Our project is a unique one; unique to us, unique to this place, and to this time. Each movement cuts through unbroken space. Every gesture is new -- to be carefully considered and recorded with due diligence. Mark my words: if there is ever someone traveling this path again, we will carry them.

Tracy Anderson made a wonderful video for us, highlighting this project and providing a glimpse at what we are all about. If you've had trouble conceptualizing 702 Main Street up until this point, hopefully watching this will help. If you're easily intimidated you may want to close your eyes at the financial bit.

As I sit here in my freshly silk-screened Get 'Er Done t-shirt (see next post), I still feel just as excited about what we're doing here as I did fifteen months ago. Maybe more. Now that we have the go-ahead to develop, we've started collecting quotes from plumbers, electricians, contractors, and exterminators (raccoons, skunks, and rats, oh my!) What has long been one of the first few steps in the renovation process -- an energy efficiency audit -- is scheduled for Monday afternoon. I expect the results to be horrifically comedic.

Our goal for phase one is to complete the public gallery space and prepare the building for permanent tenants. Watch for more frequent updates -- photos, video, incidental sundries, and cautionary tales -- starting now.

Public: youtube and t-shirts

Here is the video as promised, taking you on a two-part tour of 702 Main Street.  Please help us spread the word! 

Also, we have t-shirts with a picture of 702 on them with the caption "Get 'Er Done" underneath if anyone would like to buy one.  They are $20, with a portion of the proceeds going toward this massive undertaking. 

Thanks to everyone for your continued financial support and encouragement, it means a lot. Today is a very exciting day for artists in the River Valley and for the RiVA team!

I was at 702 last Wednesday with an electrician while the Weslyan Church was being demolished. 

It was a powerful contrast - hearing what it will take to create a useable community space at 702 and seeing what the consquences will likely be if we fail to mobilize enough support.  It was very sad to see the old church go, but extremely motivating.  There is no doubt in my mind it will take a whole community to make the 702 dream a reality.

So far, we've had a plumber, electrician, engineer, building supplies man, energy efficiency crew and foundation examiner in to have a look.  Although the building is old, it has very good bones and the engineer commented that he had never seen a rock wall basement in such good condition.  So far, so good.

Now we are waiting for the quotes to come in so we can determine precisely what "Phase I" of renovations will include.  Tracy has prepared a great promotional video that will be uploaded here and to youtube soon.  It will take you on a walk-through and get you fired up to help out.  Cheers!

 

How You Can Help

Here are five ways you can make 702 into a home for the arts:

1. Make a donation to our parking campaign (see below).  We need $18k
2. Donate your Canadian Tire money for house supplies.
3. Become a RiVa member - memberships are $10 at Fusion
4. Volunteer your time!
5. Donate used office furniture - we have a desk and chair, now we could use a couple of filing cabinets, shelving, a fax machine, printer, paper.

June 1

With so much going on in the world, one has to look at the positive.

We are now rezoned. This is really happening. What was the pipe dream of three artists and a handy napkin-note taker who happened upon them (that's me!) one year ago is swiftly becoming reality. We've traded red tape for measuring tapes - and Sunday - the RiVA board of directors laid out a timeline and a vision. The marathon meeting (which conveniently concluded with dinner prepared by a pretty pianist)allowed us to establish a date where temporary renters (four members of the board) will move in and begin paying rent to RiVA.

This week we will be calling plumbers, electricians and energy auditors. We intend to do all of the grunt work ourselves with the much-needed help from lovely volunteers in the community.

And we're off and running!!!

Parking

Woodstock Arts Council has graciously agreed to accept donations to help pay for the parking expense of $18 000.  This means you can get a tax receipt for your contribution.  We will be starting a larger public fundraising campaign this winter, but why wait?  You can send your donation to:

Woodstock Arts Council
108 South Ave.
Woodstock,N.B. E7M 2S2

Just write RiVA or "parking campaign" on the envelope so their wonderful treasurer will know to pass it on. 

Thanks for your support - we anticipate a busy spring with fundraising and preparations for next year's Dooryard Arts Festival.  Happy 2010, see you at 702!

Paying the Piper

After months of research, wrangling, and soul-searching, we have come to the conclusion that we are going to submit terms to Woodstock Town Council to pay the $18 000 due to our lack of onsite parking.

Usually when I tell people this, they start with questions....

Them: What do you mean, no parking, the Courthouse is there, the Weslyan Church is there, why can't you use that?

Me: The by-law says we have to have our own dedicated parking. We had a deal with the Presbyterian church but it wasn't within 500 feet of 702, and they don't have enough parking under the by-law either.

Them: So, why is it $18 000?
Me: We are required to have 10 onsite parking spaces due to the square footage of our building. We have one at the house, so we have to pay $2000 per space that we don't have.

Them: What about the houses next door? They don't have enough parking.
Me: They were built before this bylaw took effect last August, and are exempt from these rules.

Them: So, what does the $18 000 do? Get you the parking spaces?
Me: No, it goes into a fund for the Town of Woodstock to create more parking in town.

Them: How are you going to pay for this?
Me: Fundraise our butts off. And try to pay over the course of many years.

Won't you be my neighbour?

Across the street from 702 is the Weslyan Church. The congregation is moving to the former co-op grocery store in Jacksonville, and next Monday night, Woodstock Town Council will begin voting on the rezoning. It takes three readings to approve the rezoning, which will allow a developer to tear down the front part of the church and replace it with vinyl aparments.

Neighbourhood residents are opposed - they are asking for support at the Council meeting next Monday at 7pm. Please come and show your support, even if you're from out of town. We need to speak up on these issues or there will be no historic buildings left. More to come on our parking issues in a few weeks.

Good things come to those who wait

Just wanted to let you all know that 702 will not be a gallery space in time for the Dooryard Festival. We've run into more red tape than we anticipated and need to put the brakes on in order to manage everything properly. Although we are a little disappointed about this, it does give us more time to have a super awesome gallery in time for Dooryard 2010, which promises to be excellente!

We will continue to update you in September after we recover from the festival. We're a bunch of busy bees at the moment and sincerely hope you will check out Woodstock's first ever mixed arts festival, downtown, August 12-16th. See you there!

Demolition (Hu)Man

The RiVA team has started tearing out everything bad about the sixties: wood panelling, wood veneer cabinets, ratty carpets, suspended ceilings. Unfortunately, we are also removing some original plaster and lathe walls in order to open up the front rooms for the gallery. We are on a tight timeline, since Dooryard Arts Festival will begin in the 702 gallery on Wednesday, August 12th. But humans work best under pressure and this group is no exception. Anyone who would like to help, leave a comment and we'll find a way to get you involved.

Legalese

Two days ago--May 11th, 2009--four River Valley Arts Alliance board members took a trip to beautiful Knowlesville, New Brunswick. The sun was shining, it was warm, and our nerves were alive with excitement. We came with high spirits. We came with pens and chequebooks in hand. We came to sign our lease.

Effective May 17th at 12:00 noon, we are the tenants of 702 Main Street.

More to come.

With spring comes...

Why does The Winter seem so long while it's happening, but in retrospect it's like hardly any time has passed at all?

It's been nearly three months since our last update. At that time we were all doing a lot of talking, a lot of planning and a lot of dreaming. Now, at the cusp of spring, it seems it's finally time for action. With word from the house owners that property taxes are due, we've undertaken a fundraising campaign since it was decided in the fall that as part of our lease agreement we would cover that cost each year. The lease is still not signed. We're waiting on legal paperwork that will allow us to call the Arts Alliance an incorporated not-for-profit entity, and sign binding contracts as such. At the risk of inviting a "famous last words" scenario, this stuff is all just a formality, and should be taken care of within the next 30 days.

Now that the weather is warmer (in our experience it's usually 4 or 5 degrees colder inside the house than it is outside) we're all very eager to get started. What does that involve, you ask? Good question. A few months ago we essentially finalized our vision for the house interior. It includes a small retail area, a large, open gallery and performance space, mixed artist workspace--including a full darkroom, printing press and rental units, living space (both permanent and temporary), a communal catering kitchen, and designated space for future expansion (like for, say, a community radio station!).

The first step will be presenting an expanded and detailed version of this plan to the owners of the house for their approval, which we aren't anticipating will be a problem since they are seriously cool people with a vision very much in line with ours. The next step, or rather a step taken simultaneously with the first (making for a very odd, but effective, walk) will be to locate and procure support. This support will need to come in three forms: monetary support, material support, and manual--as in labour--support. For this project to fly it will have to involve the entire community, and the community has to want it. I happen to think that the community not only wants it, but needs it. The creative-types in this area have been without a home for long enough, and we want to give them one. We not only want to give our artists a home, we want to give their supporters a place where they come to commune with local art, and to get involved with their community. We think it could change the dynamic of this place. Maybe it already has?

At the same time, we are moving ahead on our summer arts festival in a big way. We are aiming for something of a nature of which this area has never seen before -- a multimedia visual, culinary, literary, and performance event that will showcase two of our most under appreciated resources: our artists and our downtown. Among the venues for music and theatre performances, art shows and dance parties will, we hope, be a grand old Victorian on Main Street, having had new life breathed into her by our disparate committee of dreamers.

I only want a proper house...

...from inside the house...

Best of Intentions

It seems as though this blog has been neglected! It is because there is so MUCH going on that recounting it has been near impossible.

We have now been in the house numerous times, and plans are really taking shape. Leases are drafted; lawyers have been consulted; little is left to do. Except for the actual work, which is kind of a big deal. (Do I need to use quotation marks when I'm quoting myself?? I don't think so).

Though, as a sidebar, I was accused of plagiarizing myself in university. Can you even imagine??? I did copy/paste four paragraphs from a previous essay. But still!! It's impossible to plagiarize your own work. Seriously.

Anyway, to the task at hand. We seem to have come to a consensus on a house layout plan, which is great. I am going through the house on Thursday afternoon with the carpentry instructor, which should prove to be useful insofar as determining whether our plans are feasible. It truly is exciting stuff.

When spring springs (that phrase really only works in the past tense, otherwise, it's just ridiculous), we have our work cut out for us. BRING IT ON is what I say!!!

Flashes of Gold! errr...Sepia

Obviously I have been excited at the prospect of renovating an old Victorian home! And, on an almost intangible level, I have been excited about what this house has potential for in the town, and for anyone who so chooses to get involved. All of this has been on a grand scale though. I mean, I knew that we're going to have a darkroom (among other things), but I guess I really didn't understand what that meant. I mean, I definitely have an interest (keen interest) in photography, and I knew I wanted to see what the dark room experience was all about, but it's something I know little about.

A couple of things have happened in the last two days that have made this intangible thing become much more real for me. The first was a rather comical chat with my dad last night concerning an old SLR camera of his. I'll give a run down of how it went.
"Hey Dad, do you ever use that old camera of yours?"
"No, do you wanna borrow it?"
"Yeah! That would be great dad!"
"You know dear, it takes film."
"Yes dad, it's older than I am."
"I bought it in 1981. It's a Pentax K1000!"
I swiftly looked it up online. That was step one in the quest for tangible excitement.

The second event was an impromptu trip to Presque Isle with Laurel for her photography class tonight. She and Geoff had used the darkroom there yesterday, incidentally developing photos of 702 MAIN!!!! This is EXCITING in itself!! BUT, it gets better. In Laurel's class, she learned how to turn black and white prints into sepia prints, and I got to watch!! It hit me like a tonne of bricks (or should I say ton given that we were in the U.S. of A.). I, me, Katelin Dean, am going to get to process film!! The chemicals smelled disgustingly wonderful, and the finished photo was outstanding. I mean, I was there when these photos were taken. I saw them the day after they'd been developed, and I saw them transformed, before my eyes. I know it's a process that's been around for a long time, but it's freaking MAGIC!

I'm realistic in knowing that we have lots of work to do before getting to this point. Today made it even more worthwhile than it already was.