Harcourt House Artist Run Centre Endurable Fund

Update:

We at Harcourt House are extremely grateful to everyone who helped us reach our $70k fundraising goal on GoFundMe.

Our Fundraising Campaign in Support of the Purchase of Harcourt House Buildings Still Continues!

We at Harcourt House Artist Run Centre are extremely grateful for the remarkable support offered during our GoFundMe and #Giving Tuesday Campaigns toward reaching our $70K fundraising goal on the GoFundMe platform.

This plateau has been reached; we are increasing our goal to $100,000.00!

Where Edmonton Community Artists Network (W.E.C.A.N.) Society/Harcourt House Artist Run Centre must raise a total of 3.5 million dollars by November 30, 2024 to purchase the Harcourt House Buildings to make this home of 36-years permanent, stable, and sustainable.

The majority of the money that is needed to purchase Harcourt House will come from Government and major philanthropic contributors, we at Harcourt House are most encouraged by our continued conversations with all levels of government, the corporate sector, private foundations, local philanthropists, and by our fundraising endeavours.

Your help is still needed, vitally important, and your contribution to the Harcourt House GoFundMe campaign does make a difference for a positive future no matter what amount you contribute.

In 2023, the Society has received two significant donations of $100,000 each. One from the Calgary-based Flanagan Foundation, and one from an Anonymous Donor outside of Edmonton. These generous contributions are in recognition of the role Harcourt House Artist Run Centre has played for 36 years in the cultural landscape of Alberta and continues to play today.

The acquisition of the buildings and associated land currently inhabited by the Harcourt House Artist Run Centre opens up tremendous opportunities for further growth and enhancement of the visual arts in Alberta. Spaces like Harcourt House Artist Run Centre are vital to artists staying in Alberta and contributing to the cultural and economic vibrancy of our Province and cities.

In the meantime, please direct people to our GoFundMe Fundraiser in support of the Harcourt House Artist Run Centre Endurable Fund/Acquisition of the Harcourt House Property.

Please know that every penny helps and is appreciated in our quest to secure ownership of Harcourt House and that your donations are absolutely necessary to achieve our ultimate goal.

A legitimate question that has been raised by potential donors is what would happen to the money should, for whatever reason we are not able to attain possession of our current facility. We called the project the “Harcourt House Artist Run Centre Endurable Fund” because regardless of the outcome of our current negotiations, Harcourt House will survive and continue our role in providing our community with the services they have come to expect. We would need to find a new home and we would need these resources to cover the costs of developing that space to offer the professional services we pride ourselves on. We are still very hopeful that we will be successful in securing the Harcourt House facility but even if we can continue in this location, we will be taking on much greater financial responsibility for the care and operation of the facility. So, whatever the future holds for Harcourt House your support and contributions will ensure that we have the resources to move forward.

With your support today, there will be Harcourt House for tomorrow!

With profound thanks and gratitude,

Edmund Haakonson

President of the Board

W.E.C.A.N. Society/Harcourt House Artist Run Centre

E. Ross Bradley

Vice President of the Board

W.E.C.A.N. Society/Harcourt House Artist Run Centre

CALL FOR SUPPORT!

35 years ago, Alberta artists stood up and helped when the people of Edmonton needed it.

Today, we, the artist inheritors of that legacy need your help.

We at Harcourt House Artist Run Centre have an opportunity to purchase Harcourt House facilities. Recently, the Minister of Alberta Infrastructure has generously granted us a one-year extension to our lease, which will give us until November 30, 2023, to accomplish our fundraising goal to make our home permanent and stable.

In order to secure the ownership of Harcourt House a total of 3.5 million dollars must be raised.

The vast majority of the money needed will be raised through a combination of major donors ($100,000.00 + each) and Government sources.

We at Harcourt House Artist Run Centre also recognize and appreciate from our deepest hearts that not everyone has that kind of money to give. That is why we set up this GoFundMe campaign, for people who want to help with whatever amount that they can afford to contribute. Please know that every penny helps and is appreciated in our quest to save Harcourt House and that your donations are absolutely necessary for us to achieve our ultimate goal.

The story of Harcourt House Artist Run Centre

July 31, 1987 the Black Friday Tornado struck the City of Edmonton. Within days of that devastating event Brian Clark, an Indigenous sculptor originally from Fort McMurray, approached Lorraine Noel who worked in the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Edmonton with the idea for “Artists for Tornado Relief”.

Clark and Noel brought together a group of artists who, in under six weeks, organized and staged an art auction fundraiser. More than two hundred artists from across Alberta donated their work. The Brick Warehouse furniture store supplied vans to transport the donated art that was collected at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre. The event was held at the Edmonton Gardens (the pre-cursor of the Coliseum Arena). The auction event was televised, and people could phone in to place bids. The event was opened by then Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Her Honour, The Honourable Helen Hunley, and was attended by City of Edmonton Mayor Laurence Decore. The money raised was handed over to the Red Cross for distribution to people affected by the Tornado.

Out of devastation a community developed.

After the successful fundraiser, the organizing group of artists decided to continue the momentum. A not-for-profit society (Where Edmonton Community Artists Network (W.E.C.A.N.) Society) was established and a search for a home was undertaken. With the help of Hon. Ernie Isley, the Minister of Public Works for the Province of Alberta, a location was secured. On September 1, 1988, the W.E.C.A.N. Society moved into the Harcourt House buildings, which has been its home ever since.

Harcourt House Artist Run Centre has presented an ongoing schedule of exhibitions by artists from Alberta, across Canada, and from around the world for thirty-four years. Education programs have offered workshops and ongoing development opportunities to people who are just beginning their journey as an artist to seasoned professionals, all working side-by-side. This includes an ongoing program that is offered free of charge to individuals who face a variety of barriers so that they have they opportunity to express themselves through visual art.

We are truly Thankful, and our Hearts are full of Gratitude for every donation that we receive.

Every person who contributes to this campaign, in whatever amount that they can, is helping Harcourt House Artist Run Centre remain vibrant far into the future.

All contributors toward Harcourt House Artist Run Centre Endurable Fund will be listed on Harcourt House’s website. Benefactors making contributions in the amount of $250 and higher will be featured on a Harcourt House Permanent Legacy Project Wall.

Together, W.E.C.A.N. continue the legacy of supporting our Alberta Artists!