The Latcham Art Centre and Whitchurch-Stouffville Library are turning the page in their storied history and beginning a new chapter that promises to strengthen arts and culture in the community.
Town Council approved the Centre’s Board of Directors’ request to dissolve the Board and to assign the Centre’s governance to fall within the leadership of the Whitchurch-Stouffville Library, effective immediately.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Latcham Art Centre and its activities as we explore the possibilities for serving our community with this new, enhanced partnership,” says Margaret Wallace, Chief Executive Officer of the Library. “This move under the Library Board will create expanded opportunities for programming and other related partnerships for both organizations and their patrons.”
The two organizations have similar mandates and the governance model will usher in new opportunities for increased advocacy for visual arts within the cultural mandate of the Library and increased community outreach with expanded advertising and marketing resources.
The Art Centre’s 1,200-square-foot studio space will allow for more programming for the community.
The Latcham Art Centre – formerly the Latcham Art Gallery – was established in 1979 by a group of local artists and visionaries who saw the need for an arts centre here.
The gallery was named after local philanthropist Arthur Latcham and its first director was internationally recognized sculptor Ron Baird. The centre relocated to a new space in the Whitchurch-Stouffville Leisure Centre in 2018.
Photo: Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library Chief Executive Officer Margaret Wallace is excited about the new partnership with the Latcham Art Centre.