Baxter Arts Centre

Community arts centre celebrates 15th anniversary

The Baxter Arts Centre has come a long way since there were “trolls” toiling away in the basement. The building is now fully accessible with a walkway from Main Street, a new ramp and an electrically operated door. These changes were part of a five-year project and required the community to raise about $250,000 to cover the cost. On Sunday, the Baxter Arts Centre board invited the community to come in and see the changes while celebrating the Centre’s 15th anniversary. There was music, face-painting for the kids, cupcakes and ice cream, as well as beer from All My Friends Brewery and wine from Karlo Estates. There was a silent auction that included things like dinner for four at the Drake Devonshire, Thanksgiving brunch at the Waring House, a gift certificate from Flame + Smith, a Royal Hotel gift pack, and a two-day pass to The Wander. Board chair Carolyn Sinclair welcomed the visitors, and said that she is still somewhat surprised that she found herself on the board after simply coming in to sign up her kids for art classes. “The truth is, our family fell in love with the Baxter, and it offered us a community when we were new here. I wanted to get involved to help make someone else feel that way,” she said. She thanked the present and previous board members, the countless volunteers and the instructors who have worked to make the Baxter what it is today. “Maintaining an aging heritage building poses special and difficult challenges, and that’s why we are incredibly grateful for the generous supporters we have. We have completed a huge accessibility project, there’s a new metal roof, a new electrical panel, and a new surround sound system and a projector,” she said. She added that two trees have been planted in memory of long-time volunteers David Smith and Sue Keller.

Mayor Steve Ferguson congratulated the board and the volunteers for all the work they have done and presented Ms. Sinclair with a Certificate of Recognition from the municipality. “We are well aware of the importance of the arts in Prince Edward County to everyday well-being.

This community offers an opportunity for people to come forward, express themselves and become part of a larger community, and that’s the great thing about the arts,” he said. “This is a vibrant hub for creativity, learning and community engagement, and we commend the dedication of the instructors and volunteers. It is a cornerstone of artistic expression and community connections.”

The Baxter Arts Centre was built in 1946 as a cafeteria for workers of the Baxter Canning Company, and served multiple other purposes after the company ceased operations. The Village of Bloomfield took over ownership in 1994, and in 2008 the amalgamated County declared the building surplus. The Baxter Arts Centre was formed as a not-for-profit corporation by a group of residents in 2011 and purchased the building for $5,000. The building needed some major work to become useable, and members of the local community (affectionately known as the “trolls”) helped to renovate the space—insulating the walls and ceiling, fixing the plumbing and wiring and repairing the roof. A new floor was also installed along the way.

Ms. Sinclair said that the board is very much involved in the day-to-day operation of the Baxter Arts Centre, and it has been a challenge to obtain funding for the important and necessary upgrades to the building. “Funders don’t really want to pay for things like retaining walls and pipes and things like that that. Money for programs and events are easier to obtain,” she said. The accessibility project has already had a big impact, making it easier for seniors, people with disabilities and even people with baby strollers to access programming in the building. There is an extensive arts-based programming for children. Ms. Sinclair noted that there were 20 camps hosting over 500 children during the summer. There are after-school programs, March Break activities and PA day programs. The board works to ensure programming is available to all families. “We want to ensure our programs are accessible. Our camps are quite a bit less expensive than other camps in the community. We have to be a little creative so that we are paying a proper living wage to the people who work in our space. We offer pay-what-you-can programs, there are scholarships, and there is also funding for specific events that help keep down costs,” she said. There is an extensive range of programming for adults and teens, including Dungeons and Dragons, sewing programs, line dancing and figure drawing. Ms. Sinclair said that in a rural community adults can sometimes become isolated, and the programs at the Baxter can help to mitigate that and foster friendships. “I’m very proud that this building is here and we can continue to offer these programs,” said Ms. Sinclair. To learn more about the Baxter Arts Centre or to make a donation, please visit baxterartscentre.org.