Home for the arts

Making it happen: (L-R) Larry Spencer, Monika Fida-Feller and Shannon Pitt. Perhaps the simplest way to show your support for this project is voting for it at www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf10913

Bloomfield Centre for Creativity taking shape

It is an odd building—a rather squat and elongated cinder block structure perched high on its foundation at the base of the ridge that runs down Main Street in Bloomfield. The Don Baxter Memorial Building, as it has come to be known, was constructed as a cafeteria for cannery workers just after the Second World War.

But when the canning factory closed about two decades ago the building was sold to the village for $10,000. It was one of the last holdouts in an industry that had seen boom times in the County, but had largely moved on to larger and more mechanized facilities in southwestern Ontario by the latter part of the century.

The village, and then the County, tried to make it work for a variety of purposes, but for the last decade it has been sitting vacant, idle and decaying. Now the Baxter building has brand new owners and a new purpose. It has a new roof, a new paint job and the prospect and indeed the ambition to be a place of “laughter and smiles.”

A group of like-minded volunteers and contributors have come together to create the Bloomfield Centre for Creativity. They were disappointed the municipality couldn’t find a use for the structure and dismayed that neglect was impairing potential future uses.

First the group of volunteers hoped the County might simply give them the building— shedding the liability risks and upkeep. With more than 80 buildings in their possession and the likely need to reduce this number, council feared setting an example.

Meanwhile, talks between the Bloomfield group and council continued for a couple of years. Finally last year they settled on a $5,000 price and a deal was struck.

What is it? That depends on who you talk to.

“For me it is a rescue effort to save a wonderful and historic building,” explained Larry Spencer, one of the volunteers driving the project. “But it is more than just preservation—we want to see it put to good and productive use.

“Come back next spring and you will hear laughter and see many smiles in this building.” Monika Fida-Feller says the facility will be a celebration of the creativity of this community—with art classes, workshops, demonstration and showings.

“It is an art school with a focus on youth but will feature something for everyone,” said Monika Fida-Feller, another project champion. “It will feature a full spectrum of arts from visual arts to drama, dance and archictecture and design. You will see after-school programs for children, adult classes during the week and special programs in the evenings.”

The group hopes the facility will be a hub of creative activity accessible and hold appeal for all County residents.

“We have such a rich and collaborative arts community in Prince Edward County,” said Fida- Feller. “This is a very talented community that is willing to share the joy they get from the arts. It is the kind of place I want to live.”

The goal is to open the new B l o o m f i e l d Centre for Creativity by the spring of next year.

To do this the group needs more help—both financial and physical. The group has addressed the immediate concern by replacing the roof. Now work is beginning inside. Insulation is a top priority. Next will come electrical, plumbing and painting. First the building must be cleared by inspectors.

Marketing professional Shannon Pitt is leading the fundraising effort. A special fund dedicated to the Baxter building has been established with the County Community Foundation. In this way contributors may receive a tax receipt while assured their funds go entirely and directly to this project.

Pitt says she hopes the restoration of the Baxter building becomes a model for the salvation of other County public spaces.

“We are looking at the greenest alternatives inevery aspect of restoration and operation,” explained Pitt. “We will be upcycling as much as possible.”

In many communities facilities typically and programs such as these are offered by the municipality, but in rural communities, such facilities only come about because a group of individuals have identified a need and decided to make it happen. It is a phenomenon that has been repeated over and over again in this County.

Spencer says council might have done more to kick start the initiative—specifically they might have waived the $5,000 acquisition cost. Yet the group persisted. The goal was too important.

“We decided that it was important to do and that if we wanted it to happen we would have to organize ourselves and make it happen,” said Spencer. And so they are.

Those willing to help out with dollars or labour are encouraged to visit the website: bloomfieldcentreforcreativity.org or by email: arts@bloomfieldcreates.org. You can also contact one of the project’s champions including Fida- Feller, Spencer, Pitt, Rob Leek, Sue Kellar, Sue Howard, Diana Cooper and Katie McIntyre.