The following is the January draft of the Development Areas of Focus for 2008, and summarizes the major development areas that the HFA will focus on in the next year. The plan will be amended and updated regularly.

1. Launch the Foundation Newsletter
The newsletter will:
• Be a source of information on what is going on in arts and culture in the area
• Let people easily find artists and art resources. Allow artists to meet other artists
• Be short, covering where Foundation is going and news about events

     What Will Be Produced: A quarterly ezine that will keep our members informed about arts-related events and information in Huronia.
     How We Will Go About It: HTML e-mail newsletter and for those who don't have e-mail, a printed copy will be sent out.
     Timeframe: Estimated start date: March 15,'08
     Budget: To Be Determined
     People Involved: Newsletter Editor, Newsletter assistant
     Other Resources: To Be Determined

2. Re-Launch the Foundation Website
Our “new” website will:
• Be a source of information on what is going on in arts and culture in the area – events, showings, displays.
• Be a directory to let people easily find artists and art resources. Name, address, type of art, level of qualification. Provide a suppliers/artists database
• Market the “geography”
• Make the website a paying proposition

     What Will Be Produced: To Be Determined
     How We Will Go About It: To Be Determined
     Timeframe: To Be Determined
     Budget: To Be Determined
     People Involved: To Be Determined
     Other Resources: To Be Determined

3. Develop the Foundation Brochure
Our new brochure will:
• Describe who we are and why we are core to arts/culture in Huronia
• Include a map:
     Needs to be done soon. Will be used for a least a year

     What Will Be Produced: An informational brochure that lets people know about the HFA, and what we are about.
     How We Will Go About It: To Be Determined
     Timeframe: Estimated deadline, March 30th, '08
     Budget: To Be Determined
     People Involved: To Be Determined
     Other Resources: To Be Determined

4. Establish a Meeting Place for Artists
Ideas on a meeting place include:
• Should satisfy needs of all artists – may allow for non-artist participation
• Holding an “open mike”. Could be in one location or moved around Huronia
• Hosting “get-together” sessions/events/party – in conjunction with Quest and other arts organisations
• Be a conduit to allow artists to meet other artists

     What Will Be Produced: To Be Determined
     How We Will Go About It: To Be Determined
     Timeframe: To Be Determined
     Budget: To Be Determined
     People Involved: To Be Determined
     Other Resources: To Be Determined

5. Run a Significant Marketing Event
Our big event should consider:
• Use events to sell the area – create unique properties; create a cultural weekend event
• Have an event that ties the different locations in Huronia together
• Don’t compete with other enterprises. Eg. Twisted Pines
• Must be revenue generating
• Examples: Alan Arpin Memorial Concert, a “Junk Art” event, an Awards Dinner, a large scale (glitzy) fundraising event

     What Will Be Produced: To Be Determined
     How We Will Go About It: To Be Determined
     Timeframe: To Be Determined
     Budget: To Be Determined
     People Involved: To Be Determined
     Other Resources: To Be Determined

6. Organize Our Volunteers Membership Committee
Involving our volunteers is essential:
• We have 50 members who want to get involved – need work assignments
• Do we need volunteer insurance?
• Hold regular “volunteers' party” – a volunteer launch party
• How do we share our volunteers with other organizations?

     What Will Be Produced: To Be Determined
     How We Will Go About It: To Be Determined
     Timeframe: To Be Determined
     Budget: To Be Determined
     People Involved: To Be Determined
     Other Resources: To Be Determined

7. Develop Our Strategic Plan
Our strategic planning process should:
• Use a professional planning resource
• Consider what other groups have been providing
• The Board will hold a workshop to help focus our plans and goals

     What Will Be Produced: To Be Determined
     How We Will Go About It: To Be Determined
     Timeframe: To Be Determined
     Budget: To Be Determined
     People Involved: To Be Determined
     Other Resources: To Be Determined

8. Develop Board Policies
We need a few key policies:
• Policies on E-Mail, Web Postings, Privacy
• Borrow from other sources

     What Will Be Produced: To Be Determined
     How We Will Go About It: To Be Determined
     Timeframe: To Be Determined
     Budget: To Be Determined
     People Involved: To Be Determined
     Other Resources: To Be Determined

9. Plan/Achieve Financial Sustainability
Financial sustainability is essential:
• How do we raise funds, how much?
• How do we use funds?
• How do we attract donations/bequests?
• What is our 3-year Financial Plan?

     What Will Be Produced: To Be Determined
     How We Will Go About It: To Be Determined
     Timeframe: To Be Determined
     Budget: To Be Determined
     People Involved: To Be Determined
     Other Resources: To Be Determined

10. Incorporate the HFA
A key component:
• Incorporate HFA as a charitable organization

     What Will Be Produced: To Be Determined
     How We Will Go About It: To Be Determined
     Timeframe: To Be Determined
     Budget: To Be Determined
     People Involved: To Be Determined
     Other Resources: To Be Determined

1. SERVICES TO OUR MEMBERS (Artists; Volunteers; Supporters)

1. Provide Venues to Feature Our Art
• Provide display space to show work
• Get art into restaurants and other non-traditional display/performance areas

2. Provide Business Support Services
• Provide business services – legal, taxes, accounting, insurance (liability/medical/dental)
• Can we get discounts from the business community?

3. Provide Training for Business Services
• Provide mentoring/training for office services – legal, taxes, marketing, accounting
• Have general business courses for artists
• Involve our volunteers
• Can we get mentoring from the general community to teach artists?

2. MARKETING THE BRAND
1. Develop a Brand
• Have a storefront logo/sign to identify members
• Develop a brand bible

2. Create a Marketing Engine for HFA
• Develop databases
• Send direct mail to target communities
• Market the “geography”
• Have an event that ties the different locations in Huronia together

3. Develop Key Linkages
• Use Art Gallery of Ontario and Ontario College of Art and Design to gain leverage
• SOCAN, Theatre Arts Ontario, Canada Council
• Chambers of Commerce, tourist associations, Cedar Ridge Pops, etc.

3. GROWING OUR OWN
1. Organize Arts Training
• What courses do we sponsor on our own?
• Great training done by Quest
• Huronia Players runs their own programs
• Promote existing training
• Foundation could fund training
• Focus on programmes for the youth artist
• Host a training “trade-show”

2. Creating Learning Spaces
• Haliburton School for the Arts does a great job – do we need to build a school?
• Create an art co-op, including a café and display area
• Create a summer camp for musicians/artists/kids

4. REACHING THE PUBLIC
1. Create a Public Arts Awareness in Huronia
• Get great speakers into the area

• The Foundation has got to go out regularly and meet with the existing clubs and associations – Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, cottagers, etc.
• Develop a service to “move art around” in the area – an exchange, a traveling service – an art lease business
• Involve our volunteers

2. Manage the Media
• Regular contact with local media – eg.: MacTier TV station
• Identify a lead

3. Establish a Physical Presence
• Get a place that we can call home – office/Centre for the Arts
• Make it financially sustainable

4. We are All Ambassadors
• Get an activist Board – one that is in touch with the community

5. Getting Close to Business
• Bring art and business together
• Mentorships and sponsorships

5. INTERNAL PROCESSES
1. Customer Information System