Are you interested in opening your building or property to the public in celebration of our local heritage?
We are now accepting applications for Doors Open 2010.
First and foremost, Doors Open embraces and celebrates the importance of heritage. And it gets everyone excited about it – even those who would not normally be captivated by history. Such awareness and enthusiasm is key to preserving local heritage.
Participation is free! You do not have to pay to promote your site. And you will get incredible exposure.
You will be featured in the Doors Open Whitchurch-Stouffville brochure as well as this Web site.
Doors Open Whitchurch-Stouffville will be featured in the Doors Open Ontario Guide (with over 500,000 copies distributed throughout Ontario via a major newspaper) and Web site. The first 10 participating sites from Whitchurch-Stouffville to enrol will be featured in the guide, while all sites will be included on the Web site.
Doors Open sites must be of historic, architectural or cultural significance. They may include: commercial buildings, places of worship, cemeteries, inns, schools, factories, theatres, boats, museums, fire halls, railway stations, lighthouses, sports complexes, observation towers, private galleries, civic buildings, lookouts, jails, industrial sites and private homes. Heritage gardens and natural heritage sites of significance are also eligible.
The Doors Open Whitchurch-Stouffville Committee is responsible for reviewing and selecting sites. They are selected based on the above criteria, and should be located within walking or short driving distance of another site and easy to find. Sites are clustered because a property that is isolated or difficult to find may have a disappointing visitor turnout.
Doors Open Whitchurch-Stouffville takes place on the first Saturday in June from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
All sites are expected to operate for the full duration, unless special circumstances prevent you from doing so. Admission during this time must be free to visitors.
Visitors are always excited to get an opportunity to see a site, or some part of a site, not normally accessible by the public. We hope you take the term “Doors Open” to heart and offer them such a glimpse. You may wish to tell visitors they can enter any room where doors are open, and that areas closed/roped off are not to be entered.
Each site is responsible for developing ways to inform and/or entertain visitors. Just remember that some people may want to visit multiple sites, and will not have large amounts of time to spend at each location.
To get full benefit of the program, and to excite people about your site, you may wish to have:
• brochures or information sheets about your site
• guided or self-guided tours
• displays
• persons available to answer questionsYou can get as creative as you want. Examples used in other communities include:
• hosts/hostesses dressing in clothing appropriate to the time of construction
• displays showing history and recent events at that site
• exhibits of rare historical items
• re-enactments (should be kept short)Some sites have offered visitors refreshments and snacks (either free or at minimal cost).
A few sites have also given visitors a small memento of their visit.
A “Doors Open” sign will be provided to, and must be displayed at, each site. Directional signs will be provided to help visitors find your location.
Each site must display doors Open Ontario Guides, Doors Open Whitchurch-Stouffville Brochures and any other promotional materials produced by the committee.