Huntsville Festival of the Arts and the Algonquin Theatre team up to support the theatre and arts initiatives in local schools
By Gillian Brunette
Schools in the area and the Algonquin Theatre will both benefit from a raffle to be drawn on Oct. 5.
Tickets are currently on sale at the theatre at all shows and at the box office for $2 each or three tickets for $5.
The first-prize winner will receive a bronze replica of the Tom Thomson statue that sits outside the theatre in the civic centre square. Created by famed Huntsville sculptor Brenda Wainman-Goulet, the prize is valued at $4,500.
The second-place winner will receive two tickets to the entire Huntsville Festival of the Arts lineup in July 2008, a value of about $1,000 . The third prize is four tickets to Lorne Elliott’s show on Nov. 17.
WINNING COMBINATION: Huntsville Festival of the Arts general manager Rob Saunders and Algonquin Theatre manager Karin Terziano have combined forces to raise money for two very important causes; furthering arts education in the schools and purchasing much-needed equipment for the theatre. The draw takes place in October. Tickets are on sale now.
“Tickets have been on sale a little over a month and sales are good,” said theatre manager Karin Terziano.
“We may have future raffles but not with another chance to win a bronze statue of Tom Thomson. It’s a great way to support the theatre and school programs.
The Huntsville Festival of the Arts has had ongoing involvement with the local public and high school music and arts programs over the years, said festival general manager Rob Saunders.
“Since the opening of the theatre the opportunities for working together have been multiplying. Last year alone we invested more than $12,000 in outreach arts-related programming and we know there were other requests we could not accommodate.”
The festival’s share of the proceeds from the raffle will ensure the viability of the school programs, Saunders continued.
“In the early fall we plan to sit down with representatives from the various schools and develop a wish list of arts-related opportunities that would both help them meet their curriculum needs and be of interest to their students.”
The educational arts initiative also provides a link between elementary and high school students, said Saunders.
“One of the most rewarding presentations we had was an afternoon of music performed by very talented young artists from the high school to an audience of senior public school students. As well as being an afternoon of great entertainment it provided a link for those Grade 8 students who had been considering taking music in Grade 9. Greg Sutherland from Huntsville High has been instrumental in co-ordinating a number of these recent collaborations.”
Tickets will be available for purchase until Oct. 5. The draw will take place during six-time Juno award winner Colin James’ concert, which begins at 8 p.m. at the Algonquin Theatre.
