President’s Year End Report 2025

Arts Council of Ladysmith: Reflections and Achievements of 2025

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all our Members, Board, Volunteers, Artists, Instructors, and Staff for embracing a year filled with change and demonstrating such a positive, can-do spirit. Your dedication and contributions have been crucial to our success, and this year’s achievements would not have been possible without each one of you.

Organizational Change and Review

The year began on a challenging note, with several staffing changes leading to a cascade of adjustments in job descriptions. These transitions prompted a comprehensive review of all functions within the Arts Council of Ladysmith. This process allowed us to evaluate and refine the roles and responsibilities that keep our organization thriving.

Accounting Improvements

One of the most significant changes this year was the way we manage our finances. We recognized the need to track our various channels of revenue separately, giving us a clearer understanding of each area’s performance. We can now view revenue and expenses by gallery, education, printmakers, Arts on the Avenue, Spring Art Escape, and Boutique. Special thanks go to our Treasurer, Lorna Beecroft, who worked tirelessly to establish this system and showed exceptional leadership throughout the process.

Gallery Successes

After reviewing our gallery rental pricing, we increased the cost, resulting in additional revenue that helps cover the overall facility rental. We are proud to announce that gallery rentals are fully booked for both 2025 and 2026. Art sales from January 4 to November 30, 2025—including both boutique and gallery—totalled $26,544.00. Our sincere gratitude goes to the volunteers, Boutique Coordinator Kathy Holmes, and Gallery Manager Francesca for their commitment and hard work.

Education Program Growth

Our education workshops generated $33,083 in revenue this year, reflecting the program’s expansion under the leadership of Education Coordinator Kathryn Stark. The process for paying artists and instructors has also been streamlined, with regular monthly payouts, thanks to Kathryn’s diligent bookkeeping.

Arts on the Avenue

This annual fundraiser for the Arts Council achieved a surplus of $10,039.00. Now in its 28th year, Arts on the Avenue had previously run a deficit two years ago and was at risk ofcancellation. Through a thorough reengineering, which included the addition of a beer garden and food trucks, we managed to increase the event’s bottom-line revenue despite higher festival costs required by the Town of Ladysmith. Francesca Reside and Kathy Holmes secured a grant from Cowichan Tourism, expanding our marketing reach to radio, TV, and magazines. Sophie Paisley and Francesca handled artist jurying, setup, and logistics, while Francesca crafted a successful ad campaign with Sophie’s assistance as Gallery Coordinator. Additionally, a letter and phone campaign with the Mayor and Council helped secure increased funding for next year’s event.

Marketing Initiatives

Marketing efforts, led by Francesca Reside, have been instrumental in driving gallery attendance. We engaged the public through videos, Facebook, Instagram, print, TV, and radio campaigns. Sophie Paisley has supported social media initiatives and pens our weekly newsletter. The consistent communication and outreach by Francesca and Sophie ensure the community remains actively involved.

Grant Strategy

Each year, our organization seeks grants to help subsidize our operations, though we have noticed a decline in available funding. To address this, we invested in “Smart Grant” software, which assists in identifying grant opportunities. Under the guidance and persistence of Carmen Hildebrand and Ora Steyn, we achieved some successes. Carmen Hildebrand also serves as our grant writer, further supporting our grant application efforts.

Financial Overview

Despite all the hard work across our various programs, we are currently running a deficit of $4,697.00.

Capital Campaign

Our capital campaign is off to a promising start, thanks to a generous donation of approximately $57,000 from the Estate of Pascal Williams and the creative initiatives of the Community Outreach Committee led by Kathy Holmes. Additional donations of $5,000 each from Kim Perry and Kristy Henderson supported our matching campaign drive. We now have approximately $163,000 set aside for our return to the Waterfront. Together with Carmen Hildabrand and Ora Steyn, we submitted two infrastructure grant applications and expect to learn the outcomes in March.

Website Updates

Christine Earl and Ora Steyn are collaborating with our contractor, Geeks on the Beach, to upgrade and improve our website. Please stay tuned for the upcoming reveal.

Membership Growth

Membership continues to grow under the stewardship of Membership Coordinator Laurie Campbell, reaching approximately 450 members.

Gallery Attendance

Thanks to Kim Perry, our volunteer coordinator, and dedicated volunteers, the gallery welcomed 6,060 visitors from June through November 2025.

Recognizing Contributions

We are grateful to Leona Petrak and her team for their work installing art in the gallery, which receives frequent praise for its appearance. Many others contribute to our organization daily, including Adriene Jamieson, our secretary who keeps records accessible for all members; John Edwards, our resident poet; and Lawrence Phillips, our resident photographer.

Our instructors delivered over 42 classes to 399 students in the last quarter, and our artists continue to provide engaging content for the community gallery. The dedication to their craft ensures that visitors return month after month.

I am deeply impressed by the commitment of everyone involved in sustaining and growing our Arts Council. We continually seek new opportunities to engage both our members and the public in the arts, guided by our vision: Arts is for everyone.

Looking Ahead

Next year, we will undertake leasehold improvements for our new classroom and printmaker spaces and interpretive gallery. This is a significant project, requiring approximately $400,000.

We encourage everyone to support us by donating—visit our website and find the donate button, as every contribution matters. Alternatively, donations of time are equally valued.

We will also keep operating our Gallery space in 2026 and beyond we recognize that this space is too valuable to let go as the number of visitors who pass by is key to our success ongoing.

As we reflect on the past year, our collective efforts have made a meaningful difference in our community. The enthusiasm from both new and longstanding members has been a driving force behind our successes, and we are excited to continue building on this momentum in the coming months.

If you have ideas or suggestions on how we can continue to improve, I am always available to listen.

Andrea Rosato Taylor, President of the Arts Council and District of Ladysmith

I wish each of you a Happy Holiday and a wonderful New Year.