Land Acknowledgement
The Midland Cultural Centre acknowledges that the land on which we gather is located on the
traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Ojibway/Chippewa and Potawatomi peoples, and is the
ancestral home of the Huron-Wendat Nation.
The Midland Cultural Centre is the focal point for culture activities in the Heart of Georgian Bay. The MCC is a community-based, volunteer driven facility where everyone can be involved in artistic and cultural pursuits as a participant or audience member. The MCC is located in the downtown core of Midland, and enhances the vibrancy and the economic well-being of the entire region.
The Origins of the MCC
The Midland Cultural Centre was born from the vision of philanthropist Reinhart Weber and established through the generosity of the Weber Foundation which provided 95% of the $11 million locally funded construction costs. No public funds (federal, provincial or municipal) were used in the building.
Extensive research, focus groups and studies were undertaken to identify the need for a facility to support artistic and cultural expression in the area. The present site was chosen to maximize the economic benefit to the community.
Operational Structure of the MCC
Following completion of construction of the facility, ownership of the Midland Cultural Centre was transferred to the Corporation of the Town of Midland which is now the registered owner of the Centre. Simultaneously, the facility was leased by the Town to Midland Cultural Centre Inc. for 49 years. Midland Cultural Centre Inc. is the operator of the facility.
Midland Cultural Centre Inc. is overseen by a Board of Directors. Eleven directors are elected. In addition one director is appointed by the Mayor of the Town of Midland, and one is appointed by the Weber Foundation. There are four ex officio directors, one representing Quest Art School + Gallery, one representing Huronia Players, one representing the Corporation of the Town of Midland, and Reinhart Weber is a lifetime ex officio.
Cultural Partners
The MCC sublets parts of the Facility to other cultural partners. Quest Art School + Gallery occupies the front (King Street) area on two floors and offers a gift shop, two galleries and a teaching classroom. Huronia Players has a 121 seat performing arts theatre, a green room, dressing room, rehearsal stage, props area, costume storage area, set storage area and office. The Café Roxy in the Atrium Is leased to a local restaurateur.
Rotary Hall
The MCC operates the event center in the facility known as Rotary Hall. This room provides seating for 274 people in floor seating and balcony seating for concerts. Many events are produced and presented by the MCC. Other events are provided by third party producers who rent the facility for their productions.
Rotary Hall can also be rented for weddings, celebrations of life, galas, corporate events, conferences and private functions with 130 people being accommodated at table seating.
Food services are provided by local preferred caterers who have exclusive rights to cater events. Alcoholic beverages are provided by the MCC which is the liquor licensee.
Staffing
The MCC operates with a core staff of four full-time employees: an Executive Director, an Operations Coordinator, a Marketing & Promotions Coordinator, and a Technical Services Coordinator. In addition, part-time staff are engaged as house managers and bartenders. Much of the workload of the MCC is carried by a dedicated group of volunteers who provide full-time coverage at the box office, usher at events, distribute marketing materials, attend to set up and teardown of the stage, tables and chairs, attend at the coat check, do maintenance work, and conduct tours of the Centre.
Funding the MCC
A major challenge facing a facility like the MCC is financial stability. Most facilities of its type are funded to the extent of 40 to 60% of operating costs by local government funding. The MCC received no such operating support at the outset and relied on the benevolence of the Weber Foundation and over 80 individual community donors and sponsors. The MCC is in its eighth year of operation and through funding from operations, donations, sponsorships and grants has achieved financial stability. As a not-for-profit organization, the MCC is continually looking to expand its network of supporters in order to bridge the gap between administration and production expenses.
Your Role
The MCC is an amazing gift to the community. The MCC is sustained by the efforts of hundreds of dedicated supporters including donors, sponsors, board and committee members, and our incredible volunteers (we call them “Ambassadors” because of the importance of their roles including box office, reception, ticket taker, coat check, usher, event set up and tear down, facilities maintenance, merchandise sales, photographer, graphic artist, sound and light tech, programming, stage hand, hospitality assistance, and fundraiser).
