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Lloydminster Allied Arts
Council
The Allied Arts Council became a reality in 1974.
The first set of bylaws, bylaw 44-74, is dated December 2, 1974.
This was “a bylaw of the City of Lloydminster in the provinces of
Saskatchewan and Alberta for the purpose of establishing the Lloydminster Allied
Arts Council …to provide and promote cultural and artistic activities for the
residents of the City of Lloydminster”.
At this time the members consisted of one member from the City Council
and the Recreation Board, one member from each of the School Boards, members
elected from the general body at the annual meetings, and members ranging from
teenagers to senior citizens from other performing and visual arts clubs.
The first president was Ron Bettney, along with vice
presidents Dorothy Bracken and Rosemary Sturge, Secretary Kamelini Abraham,
treasurer Una Faber, Casey Hoogevelt, Clara Brown, Olinda Tindall, and Solveig
Jeffey, plus representatives of the school boards and city council.
City Council’s endorsement of the Allied Arts Constitution, bringing
the Arts Council under the jurisdiction of the Recreation Board was a
significant step in its development.
The official opening ceremony, in the basement of the old
Post Office, took place in May 1975. It
took the form of Spring Festival of the Arts, with local craftsmen, artists,
musicians, and dancers contributing to the event. A sale of local pottery followed, the council took part in
Alberta’s Heritage Days, exhibitions of paintings and photography fell into
place, and courses and workshops began.
By September, both plumbing and wiring had been completed;
a kiln and potter’s wheels were moved in, chairs, work tables, and cupboards
were ordered; and in late September, pottery classes had begun.
At the annual meeting in October, the centre was named the
“Lloydminster Allied Arts Centre”. By December the centre had hosted art and pottery sales and
the first one woman show – that
of Solveig Jeffery. The members
functioned as administrators, voluntary janitors, painters, carpenters,
instructors, bankers, and curators.
By 1977 there were over 125 paintings processed in
the Art Rental program. Several
paintings had been sold and registration in both adult and youth classes were
increasing. The Dance Academy, in
conjunction with the Allied Arts, was taking form. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet performed in February, and the
Regina Modern Dancers performed in April.
The Lloydminster Allied Arts did an admirable job of
bringing the performing arts to Lloydminster in the form of
"Overture Concerts” which were held in both the High School and
Neville Goss Auditoriums. The council also hosted the “Stars for
Saskatchewan” Series as well as “Concerts for Kids”.
Over the years it hosted Operas by the Canadian Opera Company, well-known
artists such as pianists Frank Mills, and John Kimura Parker, classical
guitarist Leona Boyd and many others.
“Since 1975, the
Lloydminster Allied Arts has been a vital link in the growth of art and culture
in the city. It affords local
citizens the opportunity to enjoy and participate in artistic activities.
The council is active in three main areas; applied arts, visual arts and
the performing arts.”
From:
A TREK THROUGH TIME JULY
11, 1993, Meridian Booster
The cultural community was growing.
Cultural funding was used, in part, to build new facilities such as the
Lloydminster Communiplex, giving more room for expansion of the dance program.
University extension programs in the arts were now taking place;
facilities such as the former Meridian School needed to be used for these
programs.
Table looms were purchased as the weaving guild grew,
housed in the basement of the old Post Office.
With more requests for funding and provincial grants,
members served not only on the local board but began to travel to provincial
meetings as well. Olinda Tindall
served on the Alberta Art Foundation for four years, from 1974 – 78.
Through Olinda, the foundation had a meeting in Lloydminster, held at the
Lloydminster Communiplex. A wine
and cheese reception was held and local painters were invited to participate.
At that time, two paintings were chosen to become a part of the
provincial permanent collection. The
Saskatchewan Arts Board had also purchased paintings by Lloydminster’s local
artists, to the credit of the work of the Allied Arts.
From using scrub brushes and brooms, paint and rollers, to
sewing unbleached sheeting for art panels; from having the Old Post Office
declared an Historical Site, through to its opening as the Lloydminster Allied
Arts Centre; from attending untold numbers of meetings and filling out as many
grant applications, Allied Arts members did their part to build the cultural
component of the City of Lloydminster.
Written by Linda Nykolaychuk
Information from Olinda Tindall, along with various Allied
Arts documents and meeting notes
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