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)
• While the space is mostly booked for Summer 2024, feel free to reach out with any inquiries 

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.