• A Word from the City of Spruce Grove...

• The Birth of the Allied Arts Council

• Genesis of the Cultural Collaboration between
  Melcor Developments and the City of Spruce Grove

• Copyright Information

Art Search

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by Arliss Liggett Cuff

In the fall of 1979, my husband and I traveled to San Francisco for a vacation. During that time, we visited an outdoor Arts Festival in Sausalito. As we toured the Festival, viewing various forms of artwork, enjoying the music and outdoor atmosphere, I wondered why couldn't we have an arts festival like this in Spruce Grove?

When we arrived home, I contacted several artists in the community and asked them what they thought of the idea. Their enthusiasm for the project encouraged me to organize the first Arts Festival in 1980. It was held at the Woodhaven school gym in conjunction with the annual Agra Fair celebrations. The focus was on the visual arts, with about thirty artists participating. Joe Clark, our local Member of Parliament, cut the ribbon to officially open the festival.

As a result of the success of this event, a proposal was presented to Town Council seeking their support of the concept of creating a new organization whose goal would be to develop and promote the visual arts. The proposal was accepted, and before long, the Allied Arts Council was formed. Soon there were a number of artists from Spruce Grove, Parkland County, the City of Edmonton, and the City of St. Albert participating in the Allied Arts Council's activities.

In 1982, the AAC introduced the first Juried Art Show (now known as the Open Art Competition). The Juried Art Show was supported by Melcor Developments Ltd., which made a generous donation to the Town toward the purchase of artwork for placement in public facilities.

Arliss Liggett Cuff is a founding member and the first President of the Allied Arts Council. June Harrison (now deceased) and Bob Barclay were members of the founding committee.

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by Ralph Young

Melcor Developments became involved in the cultural scene of Spruce Grove as a result of discussions between the mayor of the time, George Cuff, and myself when I was vice-president of Melcor Developments.

It started in 1978, with Melcor's wanting to commemorate its 10th anniversary of development in the Towns of Spruce Grove and Leduc. Melcor hosted a dinner at the Westin Hotel for the town councils, staff, and customers, as well as Melcor employees and other individuals involved in the development process.

Melcor commissioned local Edmonton artist, Meredith Evans, to paint a scene of each community for presentation to the councils to preserve some aspect of local history. Melcor also decided to donate $10,000 to each community to assist with arts and cultural projects.

The Town of Spruce Grove chose to channel their $10,000 through the Allied Arts Council, which was looking for a way to play a larger role in the cultural life of the community. The Allied Arts Council established an annual juried art show to encourage local artists. An important component of the show was a sale of the artworks entered in the competition, and each year Spruce Grove acquired several pieces of art with the funding provided by Melcor Developments.

Over the past twenty years, Melcor has continued to add to the funds for the art acquisition, and in July 2000, the City officially named its collection the Melcor Developments Municipal Art Collection of Spruce Grove.

We have been very proud to be associated with this program and we commend Council for making use of the funds very prudently and wisely. The City of Spruce Grove and its citizens are the beneficiaries of a fine collection of beautiful art.

Ralph Young
President
Melcor Developments Ltd.

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Copyright Information

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