Terri, Sara and Karen have been hard at work in the lower level of the Dyment Recreation Hall rejuvenating the new business centre and participatory arts and research space.
Art Borups Corners and Melgund Recreation, Arts and Culture have spent the past month breathing new life into forgotten corners of the Dyment Recreation Hall. What was once unused, quiet space is being steadily reshaped into something active and forward-looking—places meant for people to gather, create, and build ideas together. The work is hands-on and practical, but it’s also driven by imagination: seeing potential where others see storage rooms or empty walls.
At the heart of this transformation is a commitment to sustainable community arts and recreation programs. Rather than starting from scratch, the group is reworking what already exists, making smart use of space while keeping long-term community needs in mind. Every improvement is designed to support year-round activity, from creative projects and workshops to meetings, learning, and collaboration. It’s about creating infrastructure that grows with the community instead of limiting it.
In this photo, the new business centre and participatory research workspace is nearly ready to go. The space will support artists, youth, and community members as they develop projects, run programs, and explore research that reflects local priorities and lived experience. It’s a small room with big purpose—one more step in turning the Dyment Recreation Hall into a flexible, welcoming hub where ideas can take root and momentum can keep building.
The new space is an outcome of work that started in summer and fall 2025 with funding from the Local Services Board of Melgund, Art Borups Corners, the Ontario Arts Council Multi and Inter-Arts Projects program and the Government of Ontario. We greatly appreciate their investment in our community, which extends far beyond the arts. We can wait to share what we create next!
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