Headwaters Arts

Sharing Recipient Stories

2022 Dufferin County Community Grant Recipient
$2,500

Sharing our grant story

The funds Headwaters Arts received were used to help implement Headwaters Arts marketing strategy aimed at enhancing program delivery and cultural and economic connections amongst the artist, the community, patrons of the arts, and sponsors.

Introduction

As a not-for-profit arts organization, Headwaters Arts (HA) relies upon the support of its funders, sponsors and the sale of art to meet the objectives of the organization to:

• celebrate the visual arts and the importance of it in our lives through enhance marketing strategies and delivery.
• promote an active, healthy living for families, art lovers and people of all ages in the community by engaging them in the arts.
• advance the careers of our local artists by offering them the opportunity to show and sell their work to a wide audience of art lovers.
• build the Headwaters region as a desirable destination for visitors to explore both the arts and other area attractions.

All arts organizations have been faced with more challenges due to COVID 19 over the past couple years and Headwaters Arts was no exception. Therefore, Headwaters Arts developed a new marketing strategy aimed at fulfilling the above cited objectives and focused on: enhancing our visual and digital presence, increasing the economic viability of member artists, supporting our existing and new member artists, and providing more connectivity with the arts community, visitors, patrons and sponsors.

The implementation of the marketing strategy involved several facets, including:

• a new reception/workstation at the gallery to create a more welcoming presence for the public, patrons and the artists;
• a new and improved website now capable of supporting a more visually appealing website reflective of the creativity of Headwaters Arts member artists;
• on-line virtual tours of gallery shows through new software that will reach a broader audience, particularly through the COVID 19 shutdowns;
• the ability to archive the virtual tours on our website thereby making past shows available for a      period of time for public viewing and potential sales;
• ability to have podcasts to increase website traffic and promote the artists;
• incorporation of on-line point of sales through the website for both virtual and gallery shows;
• provide digital links to other resources including other cultural venues within the Headwaters region as well as links to our sponsor’s and member artist’s websites to enhance economic synergies;
• additional software for facilitating the application process for HA art shows and attract a broader artist membership.

Cultural Enhancement and Economic Development Impacts 

Thanks to the funding from Dufferin County, in conjunction with funding provided by the Town of Caledon and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, it was possible for Headwaters Arts to successfully implement the marketing strategy in full.

The impacts have been very positive and have fulfilled the County’s strategic priorities of cultural enhancement. The funds have been instrumental in creating a new welcoming “public presence” at the Headwaters Arts gallery, along with the enhanced goods and services for supporting and marketing the arts in the community. The improvements meet Headwaters Arts objective to reach a broader audience through a welcoming gallery environment and the promotion of the arts through heightened digital media venues, e.g.,  virtual tours of art shows, on-line sales and to support its membership through greater marketing opportunities, etc.

The new workspace and computer upgrades have already seen positive results and has increase economic development in the Headwaters region and beyond by attracting more members, marketing art to a broader audience and supporting on-line opportunities to boost sales by member artists. The on-line links to the websites of HA sponsors further provides exposure and economic synergies with our valued sponsors and the public.

The support of Dufferin County has directly facilitated the Headwaters Arts membership of which almost 30% are residents of Dufferin County by creating an inviting public space within which to promote and sell their art and thereby advance their careers.

Our business sponsors, the majority of which are from Dufferin County, have also benefited from the on-line recognition of their businesses through the HA website and the links to their business websites.

Headwaters Arts is proud to work with Dufferin County in the promotion and celebration of the arts and the recognition of the important cultural and economic role the arts play in Dufferin County.

Quotes:

Margi Taylor, President, Headwaters Arts

“The demands of running a not-for-profit arts organization even without COVID, can be challenging, but the funding we received from Dufferin County, allowed us to improve our programing, thereby further supporting the artists in the region during a difficult time. We are so grateful for Dufferin County’s continued funding and assistance.”

Deb Menken, Artist

“As an artist member of Headwaters Arts, the upgrades to the look and feel of the gallery and website have made me proud to be a member of such a professional organization. Not only is my art beautifully displayed in the gallery, but the online presence of the gallery shows makes it easy to share with others and contributes to my success as an artist member.”

Closing Remarks

As a not-for-profit organization Headwaters Arts is grateful for the continued support of Dufferin County in promoting and supporting the arts in the Headwaters region. 

Prepared by:    
Marion Plaunt
Sponsorship Chair
Headwaters Arts