Local artists and artisans will be convening next month to discuss how to expand their brand.
The 2012 Arts & Culture Summit for SDG Cornwall and Akwesasne is set for Sept. 22 at Aultsville Theatre.
The summit's main focus is educating the arts and culture sector on what is needed to form a Regional Arts & Culture Council. The summit will conclude with an election for this region's Arts & Culture council.
The Regional Arts & Cultural Council will act as a business expansion and advocacy resource for the arts and culture sector of SDG, Cornwall and Akwesasne and will provide the tools needed to develop and promote arts & culture as viable, sustainable businesses in SDG, Cornwall and Akwesasne.
The Arts Council will have an arms-length relationship with municipal government.
"We need to start seeing arts and culture as serious economic drivers in this community," said Bruce Davis, cultural development co-ordinator for the SD and G Community Futures Development Corporation. "But to do that we need to be able to provide the arts and culture sector with the tools needed to expand and grow as businesses as well as assist in co-ordinating cultural efforts. This arts and culture council will be able to provide those tools."
Graham Greer, Aultsville Theatre's communications co-ordinator, said focusing on local arts will provide an opportunity for local artists to share their talents.
"A summit of this sort will serve as a wonderful focusing lens for the many hopes and various viewpoints our community has to offer," he said.
You can register for the 2012 Arts & Culture Summit on Facebook by going to facebook.com/sdgculture or e-mail Davis at bdavis@sdgcfdc.on.ca Registration deadline is Sept. 8.
