Inking new 10-year licence, lease, service and loan agreements with the town was the first order of business for the newly elected board of directors of the Georgina Arts Centre & Gallery.
Minor tweaks to the agreements were approved at council last week, bringing to fruition a year-long process of formalizing the GACAG's role of providing arts and culture programming on behalf of the town.
"Wording changes are minor and they do not change the essence of the agreements," newly elected board president Bill Major said, adding a request to add the outstanding $16,000 portion of a $66,000 loan granted last year to the centre to the loan agreement between the two parties.
Council put the brakes on paying out the remaining portion of the loan earlier this year pending a loan repayment schedule being provided to council by the centre's former board.
"We want to sign these agreements as soon as we can," Major told council, adding the board looks forward to a "new positive beginning", both in terms of its vision for the gallery, as well as its relationship with the town.
That beginning includes a "positive emphasis" on community and artistry of all types, Major added.
"We want to work with all groups that want to further the development of arts and culture in our community," he said.
"I believe strongly the centre needs to become even more a part of community life and receive the recognition it deserves for the good work it does."
After a heated members meeting last month that resulted in all but one of the gallery's board members handing in their
resignations days after a non-confidence motion, GACAG members unanimously voted a new board of directors Aug. 5.
It includes:
• Pefflerlaw resident and artist Major, who was appointed president;
• Public-sector HR professional and former member of the region's community legal clinic, Anita David;
• Georgina Island artist and band councillor Lauri Hoeg-Williamson; and
• the daughter of Canadian artist Albert Chiarandini, Joan Tadier, who was re-elected to the board.
A fifth director will be elected at the GACAG's annual general meeting this fall.
Major said the new board is excited about the GACAG's future and is ready to put the past behind them working under a new mandate focused on creating a healthy, vibrant and essential arts presence locally, while garnering new audiences and acclaim both nationally and abroad.
Buoyed by the town's commitment to 10-year agreements, Major looks forward to a clean slate and collaborative approach between the town, the centre and the community focused on arts and culture moving forward.
"I believe it is an extreme act of good will on behalf of the town and we expect to work closely with the town for the foreseeable future," he added.