Outer City Arts eyes revival of Cannington Hall auditorium

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

BROCK: The future of the Old Cannington Hall auditorium could soon be shaped by a revitalized community arts group. At their meeting, on Monday, September 8th, Brock Township Council heard a presentation from Outer City Arts (OCA), about its financial plan and interest in leasing the upstairs theatre space.

Executive Director, Charlotte Hale appeared before council to share the vision of the non-profit, originally founded in 2016 to provide access to art education and creative experiences in rural communities.

“Outer City Arts has always been about opening doors to the arts in small towns,” Ms. Hale told council. “We are starting from scratch, but we have the talent, the passion, and the plan to make this work for the long term.”

From 2016 to 2021, OCA hosted workshops in Cannington, participated in community events, and helped activate the historic theatre space above the Cannington Library. However, the pandemic forced the group to wind down operations in 2021.

This past March, former board members were contacted about restarting the initiative. A new board was formed, and OCA was officially reincorporated, as a non-profit, earlier this year, on June 1st. The group now hopes to relaunch programming this autumn with limited workshops, while laying the groundwork for a full schedule to begin in 2026.

The financial plan presented to council includes a grassroots fundraising campaign, aimed at securing a $15,000 operational budget for the remainder of 2025. Programming is expected to include: seasonal six-week workshops, weekend events, summer art camps, concerts, and a speaker series, with the long-term goal of establishing OCA as a national arts service organization within five years.

Among the first offerings planned are The Fine Art of Photography, with Ms. Hale, and a writing workshop at the Nourish Hub in Cannington. Winter of 2026 programming could feature concerts, wellness workshops, and speaking events, if renovations to the Old Cannington Hall theatre space are completed in time. Discussions are also underway with Durham College’s School of Media, Art & Design to potentially host a full credit course in Cannington in the autumn of 2026.

“Our rural heritage spaces can be transformed into learning and gathering environments, for future generations,” added Ms. Hale. “Good things take time, but resilience and creativity are what drive our team.”

Council has asked staff to report back on the potential costs of renovating the upstairs auditorium at the Old Cannington Hall, as well as possible revenue from a lease agreement with Outer City Arts.