The Nicola Valley Community Theatre Society’s board of directors was told by Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart last Friday to get as many community partners as possible on board showing vocal support for a new community theatre before making any official funding request to the province.
If the board were able to present letters of support — and subsequent intent to provide funding to the project — from numerous community partners, it would go a long way towards the provincial government being willing to provide substantial funding for the multi-million dollar project, said Tegart.
The meeting was held in the community arts room at Brambles Bakery in downtown Merritt.
“Your partnerships are going to be critical,” said Tegart, who met with several board members before announcing the provincial government is providing $10,000 to the board as it continue it’s drive to try and have a performing arts and movie theatre facility theatre built in downtown Merritt.
Tegart said having letters of support from city council, potential First Nation partners, the Nicola Valley Community Arts Council and School District 58 — which has already been achieved — would make a huge positive difference as the society makes plans to apply for significant funding from the provincial and federal governments.
After getting support from as many community partners as possible, the society is also going to have to come up with a final number in terms of asking for how much money they believe they are going to need the province to provide for this project to become a reality, said Tegart.
“For me to move forward, I need your ask (funding dollars),” she said. “But you need to be real, be real about what percentage that you need to have come from the provincial government.”
Tegart told the board at least five times during the 90-minute meeting that “money is tight” and there is an endless list of community projects across B.C. that are also seeking significant provincial funding.
If the society can provide letters of community support from as many partners as possible and provide a final figure of what they will need from the provincial government, Tegart promised she would approach various ministers in Victoria and vouch for the great work being done by the society and do everything in her power to try and secure funding.
The letters of support must clearly indicate the respective group’s are supportive of the project and how much they’re willing to contribute should senior levels of government agree to funding, said Tegart.
“They need to state their support for the project and the percentage they are willing to back. If they are wiling to provide dollars, that needs to be clear in the letter.”
Board president Kurt Christopherson assured Tegart there are numerous community groups who support this project and many are willing to commit financial assistance if senior levels of government show strong financial support.
A project of this size — roughly $3.4 million to erect the building and another $1.5 million to furnish and equip once constructed — won’t see the light of day unless the federal government is also on board and the many partners the society is dealing with for support are willing and able to provide their fair share of funding, said Tegart.
Committee members told Tegart that they have raised more than $300,000 over the past few years towards the community theatre project and also have an additional $120,000 from the sale of one of the two lots they purchased for $275,000 back in 2014 where they hope the new theatre would be built.
While they continue to apply for as many provincial and federal grants as they possibly can, a big stumbling block has been the fact the society has been unable to attain charitable donation status, making them ineligible for numerous substantial grants available for arts groups like theirs, said director Clara Norgaard.
“They look at us as a business,” she said, noting the project would include three movie theatres and a performing arts centre that would generate the majority of revenue once the facility was operational.
Christopherson and other board members told Tegart they would take a long and serious look at changing the original business plan that included a for-profit multi-plex theatre and performing arts centre and revise the plan to lease out that space if it would mean being able to attain charitable status and allow them access to significant grants.
Christopherson told Tegart that community support for this project is still overwhelmingly positive and he agreed the time has come to get more community partners involved.
“If we are all on the same page, this can be a huge success,” he said.
Without increased community support, the likelihood of her being able to get a positive response to a significant funding request is very limited, said Tegart.
“At this time, you all know money is very tight and we all know there is no money there” unless the federal government and numerous other local partners step forward, she said.
“This is a significant amount of money we’re looking at. I need the amount you will be requesting so I can go to the appropriate ministry and look for money. Just remember that you are one of the many, many groups like yours that are looking for money.”
Tegart also promised on behalf of the society to discuss this project with local MP Dan Albas and inquire about potential federal funding for the project.
“There are things like the Build Canada Fund … I will be looking at those potential pools of funding for you,” she said. “What I will commit to you is I’m willing to knock on doors in Victoria. I’m not making any promises, but I will see what I can do for you.”
