Activate Arts

In February 2024, we moved into our beautiful new expanded space on the main floor of the Picton Armoury building! 

Our new space is in a 2500 square foot unit on the Main Street level of the Picton Armoury (206 Main Street, unit 2E, Picton, ON). Amenities include: Fiber-optic Internet, small kitchen, air conditioning, Blue Air Pro L Air Purifier, tables and chairs, white board, and a wide selection of art tools including easels and palettes. There is also a separate Conference Room with table and chairs.

We are working very hard behind-the-scenes to raise the necessary funds to equip the new space for a variety of activities – from performances and exhibitions to festivals and much more. In the meantime, we are running our participatory community arts programming and – subject to availability – are offering the space to County Arts members to meet and carry out other creative activities from September-December and February-June, subject to availability.

County Arts Arts Organization Member Rates – Non-Summer Months

Arts organization members can access up to 8 free daytime hours or 4 free evening hours per month to carry out their meetings, rehearsals, and other free-of-charge creative activities during the non-summer months. Beyond these free hours, arts organization members can add additional hours at the following rate:

Business Hour Rentals e.g. 9-5 from Monday-Friday (excluding holidays)

• $40 + HST = 1-4 hour period
• $65 + HST = 5-7 hour period

Evening/Weekend Rentals, e.g. 5-9 p.m., Saturdays & Sundays

• $60 + HST = 1-4 hour period
• $90 + HST = 5-7 hour period

Full Day Rentals

• $120 + HST = Full day (9 a.m. – 9 p.m.)

We might also be able to accommodate one-off rentals of the larger space and/or Conference Room by County Arts Artist Members at the above rates during business hours, i.e. when staff is present. If only the Conference Room is being rented by Artist Members or Arts Organization Members, the above rates OR a $10/hr rate – whichever is cheaper – would apply.

If you aren’t yet a County Arts member, join us! Visit our Membership page for more info and to sign up.

Non-Member Rates

Subject to availability, the space is also available for rent to non-County Arts Members at the following rates:

Business Hour Rentals e.g. 9-5 from Monday-Friday (excluding holidays)

• $70 + HST = 1-4 hour period
• $120 + HST = 5-7 hour period

Evening/Weekend Rentals, e.g. 5-9 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays

• $110 + HST = 1-4 hour period
• $170 + HST = 5-7 hour period

Full Day Rentals

• $225 + HST = Full day (9 a.m. – 9 p.m.)

Notes

• During the non-summer months (i.e. when our community programming is running), the Lab cannot be used by artists or arts organizations to offer their own paid workshop/course programming.  (In light of our commitment to building relationships and harnessing the power of art to foster truth and reconciliation, special consideration may be given to rental requests for activities involving Indigenous artists.) If you have an idea for a course offering at the County Arts Lab, you can apply to join our Artist Instructor team (intake deadlines are Late Spring and Late Fall; outside of these times, please reach out to Stacey Sproule at stacey@countyarts.ca)

Summer 2025 Rentals

You can rent the County Arts Lab space to host your activities in July and August 2025! Potential uses include exhibitions, performances, rehearsals, or studio space (more info on possible uses below). Rental periods are one or two weeks, starting on Tuesday and ending on Monday. You will be asked to provide first, second and third choices for your dates. One or two week rentals will be prioritized, and demand will determine whether we are able to accommodate shorter rentals. 

Things to note:

• Rental includes the main Lab space only; County Arts staff will remain in the office and will make use of the conference room during the rental period. 
• The current Lab space may not be suitable for all performing arts activities. We are currently pursuing grant and sponsorship opportunities, including capital requests and a major gifts campaign, to equip the space with a stage, lighting, and sound equipment. Stay tuned!
• County Arts can provide a letter of confirmation for those applying to Exhibition Assistance Grants through the OAC. 

Priority will go to:

• County Arts members (becoming a member is easy!)
• Longer term rentals e.g. one or two weeks
• Local artists and groups
• Arts activities
• If activities are open to the public, activities that are low-cost or offer sliding scale entry

Rates

Discounted Rate for County Arts Artist and Arts Organization Members:

• $700 + HST = Weekly Tuesday-Monday
• $120 + HST = Daily rental rate for rentals of 2+ consecutive days
• $140 + HST = Daily rental rate for rentals of any 2 days

Full/market Rates for Non-Members (weekly and monthly rentals only):

• $1000 + HST = Tuesday-Monday
• $3500 + HST = 1 month

Interested in a July or August 2025 rental? Please fill in this Form. We will start processing the first round of requests and confirming rentals on November 15th. After that, applications will be accepted and processed on a rolling basis.

If you have any questions, please contact our Programs Manager Stacey Sproule at stacey@countyarts.ca.

Possible uses

1) Theatre/Performing Arts

Available resources:

•  50 chairs for seating
•  bluetooth speaker
•  projector
•  promotion for your event on our events page at Countyarts.ca, promotion in newsletter/socials
•  Can be used for rehearsal, set-building, meetings, or performance

Renter must:

•  be responsible for any set-up and tear-down
•  return the space to its original condition, e.g. by filling holes, sweeping up etc.
•  provide promo material to County Arts for inclusion on website and socials etc (for events)
•  purchase a Special Occasion Permit (SOP) from the AGCO for events where alcohol will be served
•  be present for open hours or events where the public is invited in

2) Visual Arts

Available resources:

•  panels for displaying artwork
•  track lighting 
•  small selection of plinths
•  projector
•  bluetooth speaker
•  promotion for your event on our events page at Countyarts.ca, promotion in newsletter/socials
•  Can be used for exhibition, performance or production

Renter must:

•  install and de-install their own work for exhibition
•  be responsible for any set-up and tear-down
•  return the space to its original condition, e.g. by filling holes, sweeping up etc.
•  provide promo material to County Arts for inclusion on website and socials etc (for events)
•  purchase a Special Occasion Permit (SOP) from the AGCO for events where alcohol will be served
•  be present for open hours or events where the public is invited in

Questions or booking inquiries?

Please get in touch with our Programs Manager Stacey Sproule (stacey@countyarts.ca) with any inquiries about using the space. Please note that during our community programming sessions, we aren’t able to offer long-term/overnight storage for materials or equipment. 

IMPORTANT INFO for all potential renters:

• To access the member rate, the applicant must be an Artist Member, or a representative of an Arts Organization Member group, in good standing at the time of booking and throughout their rental period.
• Depending on the renter’s business and membership statuses, they might be required to provide proof of, and include PEC Arts Council as an Additional Insured on, their Commercial General Liability insurance.
• For events involving alcohol, the renter must ensure they have the necessary insurance, permits, and smart serve certifications in place.
• The renter may not use the Lab for illegal or improper purposes, nor permit the disturbance, noise or annoyance whatsoever, detrimental to the premises or to the comfort of other tenants.