In 1999, the Brampton Arts Council, in association with the City of Brampton Economic Development Office, the Brampton Board of Trade, the Brampton Downtown Business Association, the Brampton Heritage Board and the provincial Ministry of Culture planned and launched the HACE program.
This community economic development plan focused on providing entrepreneurs with programs and services in the "business of the arts". Key achievements included:
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establishment of an art incubator (now known as Beaux-Arts Brampton) to include studios, workshops and gallery space on Main Street North
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creation of a successful annual workshop series focused on entrepreneurship
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development of key resources including a business directory, web site and the community and regional networks
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registration of the HACE name and logo as a trademark in Canada
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attraction of grants from organizations including the federal, provincial and municipal governments.
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partner with Brampton Farmers’ Market to operate a HACE Sector component (now known as Art in the Open) each Saturday
Since the inception of the HACE plan, the Brampton Economic Development Office has provided an annual grant to the Brampton Arts Council.
With the celebration of HACE's ten-year anniversary in April 2009, the Brampton Arts Council invited the City to consider formally calling Downtown a Heritage, Arts, Culture, Entertainment District (HACE for short) and for the City to explore the use of its HACE trademark in the business development and marketing of Brampton’s historic downtown. This invitation led to the creation of this new five-year commitment.
Click here for more information on HACE's history.