Board of Directors 2009-2010

President:	Barbara Constantine barbara0250@gmail.com 673-4443
Vice President:	Kathy Browning kbrowning@laurentian.ca
Secretary:	Kerri Jones
Treasurer:	John Lindsay johnl.fdi@gmail.com 525-7526
Past President:	Gordon Harris gordon@vianet.ca 566-0356 or 688-6199
Other Board Members: Amanda Darling, Brent Holland, Ray Thoms
Communications Co-ordinator: Suzanne McCrae sac.communicate@gmail.com

 

An open letter to Greater Sudbury and area Artistic Community:

The members of the board of the Sudbury Arts Council (SAC) wish to clarify a number of issues of concern that have been brought to our attention recently. We are a body of volunteers who are deeply committed to the Arts. Many of us are Artists' as well. In the recent past, we have had to work with insufficient funds and a number of operational challenges.

At our last formal general membership meeting in 2007, there was evidence of substantial support for the Arts community. Many wanted to volunteer to help promote the Arts in Sudbury.  Unfortunately, the interest was short lived. Several members of the Board resigned unexpectedly due to external commitments, and membership lists were not maintained. There was thought of closing the Sudbury Arts Council due to lack of commitment, but with the help of several concerned citizens who came forth independently, the SAC board under constitutional guidelines was able to restructure.

The process is currently underway to revise our bylaws and constitution to better reflect the needs of today's Artists. We are updating our website, www.sudburyartscouncil.org, with an events calendar, and an opportunities page, etc., and hope to post an updated Artist and Organizational profiles later in the year. We are arranging information nights for those interested in applying for Ontario Arts Council grants locally, provincially and federally. We are organizing a membership drive to rebuild our membership base for the next General Meeting and with new board member elections planned for next year.

We welcome volunteers to serve on operational subcommittees, committees, and possibly assist in an Artists' mentoring program. If you would like to speak to the SAC Board, please contact us at least one week prior to a scheduled Board meeting (posted on our website) and inform us in writing (email preferred) as to the nature of your presentation, so that we may add you to the agenda and make the necessary preparations in response.

We ask for your patience and your understanding during this time. It has been a very difficult two years, but we hope that the Sudbury Arts Council will emerge as a stronger and more cohesive organization as a result of this restructuring.

Regards,

Barbara Constantine
President, Sudbury Arts Council
barbara0250@gmail.com