Help Build the Future of the Arts in Centre Wellington & beyond
Friends, neighbours and supporters — this is your moment to be part of something BIG.
Our expansion has been years in the making — and we’re so close to reaching our fundraising goal and making it a reality.
But we’re not done yet! We need your help to bring it home — and bring this bold vision to life.
Quick links:
- Buy a Brick
- Buy a Tree
- Buy a Fish (The School of Fish)
- Naming Opportunities
- Programming & Operations
- Questions? Get in touch!
Why We’re Expanding
At the Elora Centre for the Arts, our mission is to ignite creativity, foster connection and build community.
But in order to keep fulfilling this mission, we need to address the physical limitations of our current space.
We love our existing building — an historic schoolhouse built in 1856 — but, on its own, it can no longer meet the needs of our growing community:
❌ It’s not fully accessible.
❌ It can’t host large gatherings.
❌ It can be difficult for visitors to navigate.
Because we’re not fully accessible, too many people are left out — including many seniors and others with mobility challenges.
In fact, we currently have to turn away more than half of the requests we receive to use our space because of this barrier.
That’s why this expansion matters. It’s the key to creating a vibrant, inclusive space where everyone in our community can belong.
About the Expansion
We’re building a 3,500-square-foot addition to our current building that includes:
- A large, multi-use space for year-round arts programs, exhibitions, performances, community gatherings and special events
- A servery-style kitchen and other key infrastructure upgrades
- Full accessibility throughout to welcome people of all ages and abilities
This isn’t just a building — it’s a vision for a thriving, inclusive arts hub that will benefit our community for generations to come.
Why We Need Your Support
We’re a local, independent charity — not government-owned or -operated — and we’ve been enriching lives through the arts since 2002.
From our exhibitions, performances, workshops, and subsidized camps and outreach programs to providing affordable creative space for local artists and community groups — the Arts Centre is a vibrant hub where creativity, connection and community thrive.
Last year alone, nearly 2,500 people benefited from free or low-cost arts programs through the Arts Centre, including children and adults with (dis)abilities, teens in recovery, low-income families, and seniors in care.
But none of this happens without you. We rely on the community’s support to do what we do.
Ready to be a part of it?
Read on for how you can leave your mark on this one-of-a-kind community project…
put your name on our expansion — Literally
Want to see your name woven into the future of the arts in Centre Wellington for years to come?
You can put your name on our expansion for as little as $18/month!
Make a one-time donation OR pledge a monthly donation to leave your legacy with one of the following options:
🧱 Buy a Brick
Help build the future of the arts — one brick at a time!
When you buy a symbolic brick in our new addition, your name will be proudly displayed on a beautifully designed plaque on our new addition, celebrating the individuals, families, businesses and organizations who helped make the expansion possible.
Two Ways to “Buy a Brick”:
- Make a one-time gift of $500, or
- Give in monthly installments — from now through Dec. 2027 — for less than $20 per month!*
* Based on a monthly payment plan that starts before Dec. 2025 and runs through Dec. 2027
Why Your Donation Matters:
- By purchasing a brick, you’re not just contributing to a building — you’re supporting an independent charity that serves the whole community.
- More than an art gallery, the Arts Centre is a true community hub, offering outreach programs, workshops, summer camps, performances, events, and affordable studio space for local artists and community groups.
- Last year, nearly 2,500 people benefited from free or low-cost arts programs through the Arts Centre, including children and adults with (dis)abilities, teens in recovery, low-income families, and seniors in care.
Ready to cement your legacy as a supporter of the arts in Centre Wellington?
Click below to buy your brick now or email devassist@ecfta.ca for more info!
Donations of $20 or more are fully tax-deductible.
🌳 Buy a Tree
“Buy a tree” in the Arts Centre’s Greenspace!
Your name will be recognized exclusively on a plaque by your tree.
Your gift: $1,000 (or a pledge of $37/month from October 2025 through Dec. 2027)
Donations of $20 or more are fully tax-deductible.
🐟 Buy a Fish
Buy one of the 75 “fish” in The School of Fish, a new public art installation by Mike Hintermeister that will be permanently displayed in the Arts Centre’s Greenspace.
Your name will be prominently featured on a plaque alongside other dedicated arts supporters who share your commitment to keeping the arts thriving in Centre Wellington for years to come.
Your gift: $2,500 (or a pledge of $93/month from October 2025 through Dec. 2027)
This is an opportunity for you, your family, your business or your community group to play a key role in shaping the future of the Elora Centre for the Arts, and have your name etched in stone (or metal) to prove it!
Donations of $20 or more are fully tax-deductible.
Naming Opportunities: Leave a Legacy
Want to name a space or a special feature in our new addition?
Opportunities start at $500 and can be fulfilled through a one-time gift or monthly pledge through 2027.
It’s a meaningful way to honour your family, your business, or a loved one while supporting something that lasts.
👉 Contact Molly Kleiker to explore available opportunities.
Have a Question or prefer to donate by phone?
Contact Mary-Kay Goindi, Development Assistant, Elora Centre for the Arts, by email or leave a message for her at (519) 846-9698.
Looking to Support Our programming & Operations?
While the expansion is our primary fundraising focus right now, donations to our day-to-day programming and operations — including our Community Outreach Programs — are always appreciated! Click here to donate now
About the Elora Centre for the Arts
The Elora Centre for the Arts is a not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to igniting creativity, fostering connection and building community through the arts.
As an arts and culture hub for the region, the Arts Centre serves more than 50,000 people every year through exhibitions, performances, community events, summer camps, affordable office and studio space for local artists and arts groups, and a range of programs and services for all ages.
Want to learn more about us? View our recent reports:
Donations of $20 or more are fully tax-deductible. Our charitable registration number is 86123 1314 RR0001.