Brockville Arts Centre reflects on 2024 season, looks ahead to 2025
At their regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 19, the Brockville General Committee heard a special presentation from Jonathan Hannah, administrative coordinator at the Brockville Arts Centre (BAC).
The report emphasized what a successful and dynamic 11 months it has been for the local arts hub, delivering on its promise to provide high-quality entertainment for the community. Hannah shared, “BAC is a facility that is here for the community, whether it’s partnering with United Way of Leeds and Grenville to provide a free film screening to celebrate World Children’s Day like we are this week…Our focus is to ensure that there is something for everyone.”
This past year was marked by standout performances, family-oriented programming, and the newly announced 2025 headliners indicates next year will be just as exciting.
2024 Highlights
Top-tier acts such as Jimmy Rankin, George Canyon, Matt Dusk, and the newly reformed Lightfoot Band graced the BAC stage this past year. These performances catered to the demand identified through a 2023 patron survey, showcasing the venue’s commitment to “bring in quality entertainers.”
The centre hosted several sold-out promoter shows, including Ron James, SOS Abba, Music of the Night, and Hotel California. According to Hannah, these events showcased successful collaborations with promoters and drew in both new audiences and loyal Brockville patrons. The BAC’s hard work and collaboration was recognized in the summer with a Brockville Tourism Award.
Hannah told the Committee, “This award represents the space the BAC holds in an ecosystem that drives tourism in the area. We realize that everyone in this ecosystem draws strength from one another. We are proud to do our part in representing Brockville.”
The BAC had another objective this past year, to foster community connections and inspire younger audiences. Family-friendly events like Dinosaur World Live, Anne of Green Gables: The Ballet, and the River of Lights were well-received from the Brockville community. Hannah shared, “We’ve made a focus to provide the youth of the community a place to not only dream of being on stage, but to actually make that realization of a dream a reality.”
Additionally, after the closure of the local Cineplex movie theatre, the BAC has made a concerted effort to expand its film screening offerings, including the popular event “BAC to the Movies.”
With a busy year behind them, planning for the 2025 season is already well underway. Upcoming events include performances by Alan Doyle, The Irish Rovers, Hyprov: Improv Under Hypnosis, and Taylor’s Story. Check in with the BAC website and social media to receive more updates and announcements soon.