The Meaford Culture Foundation is proud to have partnered with Imagination Studio and The Municipality of Meaford to promote art for local children this past Summer. Through this initiative, two separate virtual Summer camp programs were offered exclusively to Meaford-based children ages 5-11; a personal Pom Pom sculpture kit program, and a Magic & Science camp program.
The Meaford Culture Foundation is proud to serve Arts & Culture initiatives in the Municipality of Meaford. Since its inception in 2006, MCF has invested $922,000 into the community:
- $268,000 towards Community Outreach programs such as the Meaford Theatre Company, Municipal Recreation Camp, Pursuits Film Fest, GBCS music scholarships and lessons funding, Goldenaires, Meaford Summer Concert Series, Meaford Knights, Summer Art Camp, Meaford Hall Professional Youth Theatre, Georgian Bay Story Slam, Home+Home Music Festival, Chris Scerri Presents, Programming at the Meaford Library, GBCS History Students, GBCS French Students, Kids in the Meaford Hall, Community Amateur Theater, Meaford Museum, Meaford Dragon’s Event, Art Classes for Children with Autism, The Big Canoe Project, Victoria Yeh, Virtual Concert Series’, Mutable Arts Dance Bursaries, Post-Secondary Scholarships, and much more!
- $654,000 towards Meaford Hall capital projects and sponsored initiatives including balcony level refurbishment, grand piano, AV equipment, a new screen, speaker system & blackout curtain, a new projector, tech, LED exterior signage and much more!
Covid has obviously had a major negative effect on arts and culture programs which negatively impact local businesses, tourism and artists. Hopefully, we are turning the corner on the pandemic and will be able to welcome the return of local programming. MCF is eager to support new cultural endeavors in 2022. Stay tuned for announcements of upcoming events and please remember to support local arts and culture. The mental and economic health of the community depends on it.
The Friend’s of the Meaford Library’s Summer Music Concert
The Friend’s of the Meaford Library’s Summer Music Concert series is in full swing! Every Sunday, enjoy live music at the Rotary Harbour Pavilion. Admission is always by donation; don’t forget to bring your lawn chair! All proceeds go towards supporting the Meaford Public Library.
Congratulations Madeline McNeill!
The Meaford Culture Foundation is pleased to present Madeline McNeill of Annan with a $1000 scholarship towards her first year of University. This September, Madi will begin her post-secondary education at Wilfrid Laurier University, working towards an Honours Bachelor of Arts, with a Major in English. She is a talented young writer, and we wish her the best as she pursues a future in the language arts.
MCF Supports The Big Canoe Project Film Festival
In April 2022, the Meaford Culture Foundation provided $1800 to the Big Canoe Project Film Festival. The Festival featured the film, ‘Paddle to the Amazon’, a film by Chris Forde, which tells the tale of the world’s longest canoe trip,12,000 miles from Winnipeg’s Red River to the world’s largest river. Afterwards there was a Q&A with Dana Starkell, who, forty years ago, completed this trip with his father Don.
Recently, Tom Thwaits, Executive Director of The Big Canoe Project Organization, reflected on the benefits of that donation to that project.
The $1800 was specifically arrived at as a contribution that MCF could provide because it paid for Meaford Hall for the entire day (Friday April 29/22).
Meaford Theatre Company Teaches an Old Hall Some New Tricks!
Dorothy taking a lead on set design
There’s something happening at Woodford Hall! Every Wednesday evening, since April 6/22, a group of 20+ Meaford area kids between ages of 12-16 gather to seed creative growth. They don’t know that’s what they are doing – but ,when they move together, laugh together, pull their imaginations together and, surely when they settle in and read through lines together, you can see and hear the blossoming of creativity. In the mix of personalities are some stereotypical middle-schoolers: athletes, some artsy types, & some Brainiac’s…but once inside the hall – they are a cast of characters who, with just a little guidance, become Theatre in the making!
What a gift the Meaford Theatre Company has given these kids, and through them, gifted the whole community. Sponsored by the Meaford Culture Foundation donation of $5000 in the Spring of ’22, together with others – Kim Ransom and his team at the Meaford Theatre Company have launched the Youth Theatre Workshops and, ultimately, the floodgates to inspiration.
Youth String Program Returns
Meaford Singing Strings students, (left to right) Abby Johnston, Summer McKay, Aleah McKay and Meadow Hurst, proudly show off their violins on their way to their lesson at Kin Hall
While after-school programs have continued to be impacted by public health restrictions, local musician, Victoria Yeh, has worked tirelessly alongside the Meaford Culture Foundation to secure funding, instruments, sheet music and staff in order to launch the new fall term of the Meaford Singing Strings program. As a part of the Meaford Culture Foundation’s community outreach initiative, the Singing Strings aims to provide an enriching experience to local youth age 7+, through after-school group violin lessons.
Meaford Hall Technical Upgrades!
Meaford Hall may not be rockin’ with concerts these days but behind the scenes there is a lot of work taking place to upgrade and invest in state of the art technical equipment.
Through a grant from Canadian Heritage and fundraising support from the Meaford Culture Foundation, Meaford Hall was able to purchase new and replacement equipment for its theatre this year.
Included in the purchases are a new screen and projector; wireless microphones, new LED performance lights, and an assistive listening system that is controlled by an app on your Smart Phone.
Recently, the Meaford Culture Foundation presented Mayor Barb Clumpus and Meaford Hall Manager Susan Lake with the first installment of its $65k commitment to the project.
New After-School Music Program Launches in Meaford
The Meaford Culture Foundation is proud to announce a new partnership with local violinist, Victoria Yeh to bring after-school music programming back to the community.
“With extra-curricular activities largely cancelled for over a year now, I felt it was critical to find a way to inject youth music programming back into Meaford,” said Yeh. “Music brings us together as a community, it inspires empathy and cooperation, and creates friendships and memories that last a lifetime!”
Keeping the Arts Alive in Meaford
Despite the challenges of Covid, the local Meaford arts community was not to be deterred for long. The past summer, the Meaford Hall Arts & Cultural Centre launched ”Live it Live”, a livestream music concert series featuring local musicians. And, Chris Scerri, a well-known Meaford musician, produced his own livestream “From Home Series” showcasing many professional musicians.
Meaford Culture Foundation agreed to cover the performance fees for the musicians, BruceGreySimcoe provided funds for a digital advertising campaign, and through the Foundation’s Community Outreach program, TD Bank generously agreed to donate $5,000 towards this important initiative.
MCF Donates $3000 for Local Summer Camps
The Bargain Shop Meaford Donates $300 to MCF
While distributing Meaford International Film Festival (MIFF) posters, Deborah Ise, Director, Community Outreach for Meaford Culture Foundation had occasion to speak to Cheryl, Manager of The Bargain Shop in Meaford. Later, Cheryl contacted Deborah to say she would like to support the causes of the Foundation and they arranged to exchange a very welcome $300.00 donation.
Thank you for a successful Virtual MIFF 2020!
The MIFF Committee would like to thank our partners & sponsors for a successful virtual MIFF.
Stay tuned for more information about MIFF 2021.
Meet Our Artistic Director
Anna den Hengst has a Bachelor’s Degree in Film from the University of Toronto and a Master’s Degree (also in film) from the University of Amsterdam, and has been working in the media and entertainment industries for 18 years. Most recently, Anna worked as a marketing and events consultant for broadcast and entertainment technology companies.
As a consultant, Anna was working from home and had the freedom to move anywhere. She chose Meaford for the natural beauty, the swimming waters of Georgian Bay, and the skiing of nearby Blue Mountain.
Anna is a film nerd and spends most of her free time watching movies, and wanted to get involved with MIFF. She joined MIFF in 2020 and considers the role of Artistic Director a dream job.