Huronia Regional Centre Arts Campus Proposal

rdaner · Feb 8, 2015

I love this idea, especially the concept of a summer home for the TSO.

http://t.thestar.com/#/article/entertainment/2015/02/04/could-huronia-hospital-become-a-banff-centre-of-the-east.html

SunriseChampion · Feb 8, 2015

I'm all for it....especially because the alternate choices probably include tearing it down/replacing it with some sort of poorly built rubbish.

rdaner · Jun 18, 2015

Another important milestone has been passed (application for charitable status.) Also more design ideas such as a 5000 spectator venue to be open next year that could be used as a summer home for the TSO. The architects being involved whom handled Humber's Lakeshore campus is also a good sign.

A picture of what the main facility (today minus belltower) looks like and could in the future.

http://www.orilliapacket.com/2015/0...eating-cultural-centre-at-former-hrc-property
http://www.orilliapacket.com/2015/0...eating-cultural-centre-at-former-hrc-property

wopchop · Jun 18, 2015

Really great project. Hope it comes together.

rdaner · Jul 2, 2015

Another morsel of information. A collage of images of some of the structures that make up the campus and give a further look into the scope of this proposal. A true campus.

rdaner · Jul 3, 2015

More news...hopefully the initial phase of an outdoor performance venue and sculpture garden can be ready for 2017. This reminds me of the Storm King Sculpture Park in Upstate New York. http://www.stormking.org/

http://www.orilliapacket.com/2015/0...former-hrc-need-citys-help-soon-officials-say

rdaner · Jul 3, 2015

Reading through the Huron Cultural Campus presentation to Orillia City Council, a few interesting things I noticed: KPMB is also one of the advisors, Ryerson and OCAD are seen as potential users, Anne Golden and Lord Cultural Resources are also consulting. Impressive group. The proposal starts on page 15.

https://orillia.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?Id=127582&Search=1&Result=1

WislaHD · Jul 4, 2015

So which university will end up occupying this prospective campus?

rdaner · Jul 5, 2015

It is too early to say but I have a feeling that this proposal is a bit of a different creature than a traditional university satellite campus. After taking a cursory look at similar arts campuses websites the involvement of universities and colleges seems to be on an artist in residence basis. For example, the arts faculty at a college would have provisions for two or three sculptors in residence who focus on large scale fabrication in one of the smaller structures rather than committing to a long-term, multimillion dollar structure with dozens of staff members. This also brings up the possibility of other universities/institutions from abroad setting up shop.

WislaHD · Jul 6, 2015

I see.

Well, is Orillia the kind of place artists even want to go?

rdaner · Jul 7, 2015

I found these excerpts from The Banff Centre's website helpful in conceptualizing what the intent is behind this project. It seems that these campuses are meant to complement, rather than compete with, similar facilities in larger urban centres. Perhaps the greatest advantage to an artist who currently works in Ontario is the opportunity to create in an expansive space thus the emphasis on large format sculpture that would be difficult/expensive to have materialize in a more expensive real estate location. Another potential use, considering the spacious lakeside location, is the possibility of doing large scale, open air opera performances such as those done in Europe along the shores of Lake Constance in front of audiences up to 10 000.

The Banff Centre —
at the intersection of art + ideas

New art and ideas are born at The Banff Centre every day.
We support ground-breaking artists.
We inspire visionary leaders.
We convene trailblazing researchers.
The Banff Centre is the largest arts and creativity incubator on the planet. Our mission is inspiring creativity. Over 8,000* artists, leaders, and researchers from across Canada and around the world participate in programs at The Banff Centre every year. Through its multidisciplinary programming, The Banff Centre provides them with the support they need to create, to develop solutions, and to make the impossible possible.

Made in Banff. Shared with the World.
The Banff Centre adds to Canada's and the world's cultural repertoire by commissioning, supporting, and producing new creative works. We develop multidimensional artists for the international stage in an artistically rich learning environment. Our leadership programs equip people who want to change the world with the skills to do so. Moving forward, the Centre will disseminate the art and ideas developed in Banff using new initiatives in digital, web, radio, and broadcast media.

Arts programs are at the core of The Banff Centre. Programming supports the commissioning and creation of new work by individual artists and arts collectives, and provides resources for collaboration and applied research. Training and professional development is offered at the post-graduate level in more than a dozen art forms including, music, theatre, dance, opera, Indigenous arts, literature, ceramics, print-making, painting, papermaking, photography, sculpture, audio engineering, digital film and video, and new media. Work is showcased in public performance, events, and exhibitions throughout the year, culminating in the annual Banff Summer Arts Festival; and is disseminated beyond Banff through Banff Centre LIVE. The Centre also partners with national and international arts institutions to bring art incubated in Banff to stages and concert halls around the world.

Leadership Development programs equip people who want to change the world with the skills to do so. More than ever, the world needs high-performing, creative leaders who are ready to face increasing complexity and change, while keeping their organizations ahead of the curve. At The Banff Centre, we inspire leaders to make a meaningful difference for their organizations, their communities – and themselves. Leaders developed in Banff are equipped with the skills to manage people and projects under conditions of uncertainty. Leaders developed in Banff are innovators and creative entrepreneurs who identify untapped opportunities and potential. Leaders developed in Banff experience transformational growth to provide the new perspectives needed for their organization's toughest challenges.

Conferences at The Banff Centre provides delegates from Alberta, Canada, and around the world with exceptional meeting facilities in an environment that fosters inspirational learning. Net revenue from the Centre’s conference operations supports arts programming

rdaner · Jul 9, 2015

Another article with a tiny amount of new information, namely that the visioning does not see this area competing with the Orillia Opera House as the performing arts focus would be on music (TSO summer performances) and that the survivor groups of the facility are being consulted. Hopefully a resolution that satisfies all parties can be reached but will obviously take time.

http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/5712228-orillia-arts-mecca-proposed-for-former-hrc-property/

And again, the precedents for this type of campus are the Chattaqua Institute in Upstate NY, The Banff Centre in Alberta and Tanglewood in Western Massachusetts. I wonder what examples exist in Europe?

http://www.banffcentre.ca/

http://ciweb.org/

http://www.bso.org/Home