Double the Difference: Help Us Renovate the Arts Hub Kitchen
At Arts Hub Brockville, we believe the arts and community belong together. Housed in the historic St. John’s United Church in downtown Brockville, the space is more than a venue. It is a gathering place for creativity, education, and connection. Every week, our halls welcome people for concerts, theatre, art exhibitions, workshops, and community programs.
The Main Stage Hall, with seating for 200, offers stunning natural acoustics and has become a treasured home for performances of all kinds. The Lower Hall seats 150 and is regularly transformed into an art gallery, rehearsal room, or community gathering space. Groups such as the Brockville Scouts, Girl’s Inc., and the monthly free community lunch program all rely on it. From youth theatre camps to professional art shows, this building is alive with activity and possibility.
Arts Hub Brockville’s Main Stage
However, there is one space in the Arts Hub that still holds us back: the kitchen. It can no longer be used to prepare meals because it does not meet current health and safety standards. This limitation restricts the full potential of what we can offer our community.
A renovated, modern kitchen would completely transform the Arts Hub. It would make it possible to serve nutritious meals to children and youth attending summer arts and theatre camps. It would allow us to partner with the Brockville and Area Food Bank to deliver cooking classes for young people experiencing food insecurity, giving them not only nourishment but also valuable life skills. It would give community groups such as Scouts and Girl’s Inc. a safe and reliable space for gatherings and celebrations. It would also allow us to expand our programming to include dinner theatre, receptions, and rentals that would generate revenue to help sustain the Arts Hub for years to come. More than a renovation, this is about restoring the heart of our community space and ensuring that food, fellowship, and creativity can thrive under one roof.
The total cost of the kitchen renovation is $150,000, and we are fortunate to have the generous support of the Carolyn Sifton Foundation. They have pledged to match every dollar donated between now and November 30, 2025, up to a total of $50,000. This means that a $50 gift becomes $100, a $500 gift becomes $1,000, and a $1,000 gift becomes $2,000. Together, these matching donations can unlock $100,000 in funding to help bring the kitchen renovation to life.
Opportunities like this are rare. Every donation is doubled, and every contribution helps us move closer to a safe, modern, and welcoming kitchen that will serve both the arts and the wider Brockville community.
There are many ways you can support this project. You can make a direct donation that will be doubled through the Carolyn Sifton Foundation’s matching challenge, or you can join us at one of our special events. On November 8, 2025, enjoy A Night at the Gallery, an evening of live music, hors d'oeuvres, and a truly unique experience where, for a $100.00 ticket, each guest will take home a piece of original art. On November 23, 2025, you can attend a benefit concert honouring the legacy of Bruce and Howard Alexander. Each gift, ticket, or gesture of support helps transform the outdated kitchen into a modern safe and functioning community space.
We warmly invite you to be part of this important project. With your support, and the extraordinary matching challenge from the Carolyn Sifton Foundation, we can reach our goal and make this renovation a reality. Imagine the first dinner theatre where guests enjoy a meal prepared in the new kitchen before watching a performance on stage. Imagine children at summer camp sharing a healthy lunch together and making new friends. Imagine families and neighbours gathering for community events where food and the arts bring people closer. This is the future your generosity will create.
Every gift matters. Every gift makes twice the difference. Please help us build a kitchen that will nourish bodies, feed imaginations, and sustain the vibrant arts and community life that thrive at Arts Hub Brockville.