In its three decades, the BAC has delivered an overwhelming sense of legitimacy to the art scene in Brampton.

Making careful and deliberate strides over the years, the organization successfully tailored its mandate and makeup to parallel the needs of the community. And it's something the group continues to evaluate on an ongoing basis.

"We need to be one voice for everybody," said Licia Vreudge, current BAC president. "So we are always reaching out to see what the needs of the community are."

In its early days, however, the umbrella was much smaller; when it first formed in 1978 as the Brampton Performing Arts council, it was intended as a support for local theatrical and singing groups.

Joanne Cole, an originating member, explained the initial council materialized out of a need for those in the performance field to share resources.

"We began to work together instead of against each other," she recalled. "We decided we needed this co-ordination, we needed people helping people."

However, it would only take four years for the organization to expand its scope to include members representing all facets of the arts, and its moniker was modified to Brampton Arts Council.

In 1983, one year later, the City of Brampton adopted the...