A couple of Cape Breton celebrities are lending their talents to a fundraising campaign for an island arts institution.

The Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design is trying to raise $46,000 to make up for a reduction in funding from the province.

One video begins with actor Billy MacLellan seated at a pottery wheel, his hands caressing a wet clay bowl spinning on its surface.

Enter Mary Morrison, a.k.a. Bette MacDonald, who shuffles up behind MacLellan and offers to help, threading her arms under his. Unchained Melody plays in the background.

“We’ve always dreamt of having a remake of Ghost,” said centre CEO Lori Burke, referencing the 1990 movie staring Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze.

MacDonald said it was fun to be a part of the video.

“As soon as you walk in and see the potter’s wheel, it’s the first thing you think of, so we just went for it,” she said.

MacDonald will also feature in two more short videos.

“The centre’s extremely important. It’s become an institution,” she said. “It houses the work of so many artists and crafters. And not only that, but it creates new ones.”

Fundraising campaign

The not-for-profit centre is asking for 460 people to donate $100 each.

The money will go toward staffing, artist fees, exhibitions, courses and workshops.

Burke hopes the video brings in donations, but she hopes it achieves other things.

“I think on a broader scale … for our community and our government to realize the value of craft and art and culture in general to our communities,” she said.

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