Amber Ebert, the new director of operations at Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts, has 15 years' experience in the art world. And yet, in this role, she finds herself exploring the unknown.
“This is my first time working for a visual arts organization. So I'm sort of new to this area of the arts,” says Ebert.
During her career in Toronto, Ebert worked with different organizations that focus on contemporary music and contemporary opera. There, she did perform on stage, but she realized that creating projects and opportunities were what truly interested her. More specifically – arts education and creating community programs that give access to the professional arts.
Over four years ago, when Ebert and her partner Peter decided to move from Toronto to a smaller community to start a family, they chose Eugenia near Collingwood.
“This was the kind of community that we envisioned raising our kids in. To be able to have access to the outdoors and the natural beauty but then also have access to a vibrant arts community. It's just the perfect balance for us,” says the 41-year-old mother of two, adding, “The number of artists who live and work in this region – and the quality of art – it's really quite incredible.”
While Ebert points out that, in a smaller community, there are fewer opportunities to make connections, she calls herself lucky for getting to meet a whole bunch of people working within the arts throughout the region.
“There really seems to be a strong collegial feeling – people want to work together and want to build relationships, and support one another's project, which is really lovely,” she says.
In her lead role at Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts, Ebert hopes to increase the reach and add new members in the short term. Her long-term goal is to build unique partnerships to enable artists to sell their work and fully contribute to the community.
“The art community in this region is made up of a mixture of three things: the public galleries, not-for-profit organizations, like the BMFA, and the private gallery spaces. I'm really curious about building a relationship with the other organizations that are both from the public spaces and the private galleries, and seeing how we can work together to support artists,” she says.
Ebert’s observation is that the relationship between the arts, community and tourism is very strong and it's a "necessity" even more so in a smaller town like Collingwood than in a large city like Toronto.
“In the city, there's a balance in terms of the audience between tourists and local residences. Here, more than any other semi-rural area, there's always that conversation about making sure the local residents know what's happening. But then also to connect with people who are coming up here for the weekend. How do we make sure that they know what's happening as well?” she explains.
Community building programs are in need of an overhaul, especially in the post-COVID era.
“The biggest change is that we can't just assume that people, even those who are interested, will participate in events,” says Ebert. “This is true for returning audiences, new audiences, or even volunteers. The number of volunteers for organizations has significantly decreased because people are being very selective in terms of what they feel comfortable doing and where they feel comfortable being.”
As she focuses on what can be done that will make the biggest impact, at the core is her passion for creating a sense of community within the BMFA’s membership. To create a resource hub for them, a place they can learn from their own peers and be supported to do their art.
“Then, when we invite other people to come and see it, we're already starting from this vibrant place of community, right? So that's what I'm hoping for and hopeful of,” says Ebert.
Right now, Ebert is drawing our attention to one of the largest programs run by the organization: the Juried Art Show. The show is accepting submissions until March 10 and winning entries will be on display starting April 5. She is also looking forward to the many different summer markets for the members.
“Markets are always a great way to get some exposure, especially for people who wouldn't necessarily come into the shop and check out the gift shop,” she says.
Further, she mentions the call is out for BMFA’s annual awards – the Clerkson and the Kemp Award.
The Clerkson award is given to an emerging artist, and it includes a cash prize to suppor their work..The Kemp Award is for any artist creating in any medium. They can apply for up to a $5,000 award to support a unique or innovative project that is happening within the region.
”Those are the things that I'm excited to see. What artists are gonna sort of come out of the woodwork to apply for those types of awards? And how can we make a really broad connection and promote them as widely as possible?” says Ebert.
In her own life, Ebert’s current “project” is raising her two children, a daughter, 4, and a son, 2.
“My kids are quite young, but I'm really excited to see what opportunities they take part in when they're older,” she says.
You can find Ebert at the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts office in the Simcoe Street Theatre building, and information about the foundation and the upcoming awards and shows online at bmfa.on.ca.
