VCC a growing part of the Neepawa community

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Published on Friday, January 22, 2016

Photo by Christine Waddell. Viscount Cultural Centre Executive Director Rrain Prior, along with her staff and volunteers have made the VCC into a very busy place.

By Ken Waddell

Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

Rrain Prior, Executive Director  of the Viscount Cultural Centre was wearing at least two hats last Friday. Prior is president of the Neepawa Rotary Club, which meets very Friday at the VCC. As has been the usual case for the past several months, she chaired the Rotary weekly meeting, but she also brought the program portion of the meeting.

Outlining the history of VCC, Prior said, “VCC started in 1976 and was incorporated in 1977.” The group was based out of its namesake building, the Viscount School. VCC moved into the basement of the Neepawa Building (now Team Electronics) and set up a gallery there in 1986. From 1993 to 2005 they were located in the Moyer Dental Building on Mountain Avenue. In 2005, they were able to purchase the former First Baptist Church, also on Mountain Avenue. “We were fortunate to able to get such a good deal from First Baptist Church as VCC fits in well with what they wished the old building to become.”

“There have been major expansions since 2005, with exhibitions both local and provincial. Occasionally, a national exhibit comes through, which is very exciting.” VCC holds classes in both performing and visual arts and the main time frame is from September to June, a reflection of the school calendar. Participants from 7 months of age to 91 years spanning 4 generations take part. Instructors pay a small commission to VCC to instruct at the centre. They also have an after school visual arts program and an in-between choir program. Prior said, “There’s the HMK (elementary school) Choir and the NACI Chorale (high school) but the grade 6-8 students can come to VCC for a choir led by Carolyn Durston. VCC also has a Touchwood art class.”

VCC has become a bit of an umbrella for the Manitoba Holiday Festival of the Arts, the Kaleidoscope Concert Series and the Choraliers. All three groups work out of the VCC. “We also hold beer and wine tasting events, a nice dress-up event, I even wear shoes for the wine tasting night,” joked Prior.

It takes a lot of work and money to keep VCC going. Prior said, “Eight per cent of the funding is from municipal governments, 21 per cent provincial, two per cent federal, nine percent donations and 58 per cent from exhibits, events and fund raising. Just the previous night, VCC held their most successful open mic night with about 11 performers and 50 people attending. “Some kids came and then they texted their friends and they came. It was great.” 

VCC has a charitable status so donations are eligible for a tax deduction receipt.

Looking to the future, some renovations and updates are in the works. “The building is sound, we are in pretty good shape,” noted Prior. There will be some work to open up more space. Prior noted the Jam Fest held last July will be expanded for 2016 and that they hope to do a farmers market every week throughout the summer. Various Rotary Club members commended Prior on the work at VCC and the importance of visual and performing arts in the community.