Ontario Arts Council awards three-year grant to A-frame Association
The Al Purdy A-frame Association (APAFA) is pleased to announce it has been awarded an Operating grant from the Ontario Arts Council (OAC).
The grant program supports not-for-profit organizations that promote Canadian literature, engage literary artists in arts education activities, and assist literary artists to hone their craft. All these activities are part of the objectives of the Al and Eurithe Purdy A-frame writers-in-residence program.
Since 2014, the A-frame has welcomed 49 writers and other artists, offering them quiet solitude for two to ten weeks to work on their projects. Part of the residency requires public performances of an artistic nature. The A-frame Association also offers online courses, seminars and workshops relating to writing.
The OAC has granted the Association one-year Project grants in the past, money that could only be dedicated to funding the literary activity. This Operating grant allows the Association to also cover the ongoing expenses associated with funding the residency program.
“APAFA has been the grateful recipient of Project grants for several years,” said Jean Baird, president of the Association. “We’re thrilled that our recent application for an Operating grant has been successful. Predictable funding is so important for long-term planning and growth.”
The Writer-in-residence program has run approximately 28 weeks a year (as a seasonal property, the A-frame has closed for winter and colder months). Recently, we have expanded our ambitions with a campaign to fortify and winterize the A-frame, a move that will enable us to double the impact of the residency program by making it an all-seasons offering.
In order to facilitate this move to a full calendar of residencies, activities and events, significant upgrades have begun on the A-frame. The foundation is being replaced, the building will be winterized, new landscaping will occur and other structural enhancements are planned.
The Call for Applications for 2025 – when the refurbished A-frame reopens – is now open.