A Dream in Progress.....Dedicated to the enhancement of services available in Kingsville, the BIA and a Task force of arts enthusiasts have been working toward establishing the Carnegie Arts and Visitor Centre in the former library building.  The historically designated 'Carnegie' building is now vacant as the beautiful new library building opened in April 2010. 

The "Task Force" vision is to support the Town of Kingsville Socio-Economic Development Mission Statment of Oct. 2008, by proposing a collaboration between the Kingsville BIA and an Arts Advisory council to share the Carnegie building and maintain it as a public facility used for cultural development, a Visitor "Welcoming" Centre and the BIA office.  This proposal would see the Carnegie building undergo  multi-phase upgrades and continue as a public building, local landmark and town asset. 

The Essex Community Futures Development Corporation partnered financially with the BIA to enable the commissioning of a feasibility study on this proposal.  The community survey's was made available through mail outs, on this website, and at community functions in late 2009. Those responding to the quetionaire were overwhelming in favour of the establishment of an arts and cultural facility in Kingsville.

Visitor Centre services would include,  a welcome centre stocked with booklets and brochures, tours of the art gallery, sale of gallery art works as well as souvenirs, recommendations to shopping, dining, touring, accommodations and attractions, suggested local weekend packages, offering maps and directions and accessible public washrooms. The Gallery Services proposed would include Art Classes for beginners to seasoned artists in many different mediums, outreach to seniors homes, youth centre and schools, exhibition space for local artists, meeting space for local arts clubs and cultural organizations, school break "day camps" for children, instructions, lessons, lectures, workshops, special events, classic movie enthusiasts club, and much more.

Some of the obvious benefits to our community would include, establishing a central locations to promote Kingsville's assets and opportunities and to encourage prospective new residents, employers and industires to consider relocating here, to provide balance to the community by providing a variety of cultural services, offer tourists and visitors year round services, create an income stream for local artists and art educators, create an opportunity for volunteerism, help to have Kingsville recognized as not only an excellent tourist community, but also a destination for cultural tourism.