Kingston Arts Council

Overview

The Kingston Arts Council (KAC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development and promotion of arts within Kingston, Ontario, and its surrounding region. It serves as the primary resource for arts information and support in the area.

History

Founded in 1961, the Kingston Arts Council emerged as a response to plans to demolish The Grand Theatre, then known as the Grand Opera House. A group of concerned citizens successfully advocated for the theatre to be repurposed as a civic theatre, leading to its reopening in 1964. The KAC adopted its constitution in 1962 and was incorporated in 1963.

Activities and Programs

The Kingston Arts Council engages in a variety of activities aimed at promoting the arts. These include:

• Advocacy: It advocates on behalf of local artists and arts organizations.
• Funding Administration: The KAC administers key funding programs such as the City of Kingston Arts Fund (CKAF) and the Nan Yeomans Grant for Artistic Development.
• Community Events: It produces an annual Arts Guide and organizes community arts events, including an annual Juried Art Salon.
• Communications and Programming: The KAC publishes a newsletter, known as ArtsBuzz (now the New KAC Newsletter), which delivers updates on arts news, grants, jobs, opportunities, and events twice a month.

Impact

The Kingston Arts Council has become a major arts advocacy, funding, and promotional resource in Kingston and the surrounding area. It receives operating funds from the Ontario Arts Council, supporting its continued growth and influence in the local arts community.

Business Registration

The Kingston Arts Council is registered as a nonprofit organization with the business registration number 121767792RR0001.

Notable Events

The KAC made national headlines in 2012 when artist Margaret Sutherland's piece "Emperor Haute Couture," which portrayed Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in the nude, was featured in the Juried Art Salon. This event highlighted the council's role in fostering artistic freedom and expression within the community.

References

Note: This text is based on general information about the Kingston Arts Council and may require further verification for accuracy in a Wikipedia context.

[1] https://www.artskingston.ca [2] https://www.artskingston.com [3] https://kingstonlive.ca/kingstonartscouncil [4] https://www.tettcentre.org/about/tett-tenants/kingston-arts-council [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston_Arts_Council