Moving forward together

December 8, 2008, OTTAWA – Canada’s Performing Arts Alliance, a collaboration of the Canadian Dance Assembly, Opera.ca, Orchestras Canada and the Professional Association of Canadian Dance Theatres, concluded its first-ever meeting, committed to the underscoring of the role of Canada’s performing arts organizations and artists in communities, big and small, from coast to coast. Building from a position of strength, we are looking to work with government and community builders to collaborate on proactive measures that will maximize the benefit Canadians enjoy from the arts.

Deeply concerned about the potential impact of the current economic crisis on communities across Canada and in particular their theatres, orchestras, dance and opera companies, members of the joint boards forged common cause to ensure the structural and resource ability of performing arts organizations. This forum explored policy responses to address the volatility facing companies in every corner of the country. As a significant contributor to Canada’s economy and the quality of life of Canadians, the performing arts sector came together to urge all levels of governments to ensure that the arts are part of any economic stimulus package.

Drawing on experiences and lessons from both inside and outside of Canada, leaders of Canada’s performing arts sector found common ground to fortify their collective impact, nationally and in their communities. Robert Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts, spoke passionately and convincingly about the need to engage Canadians from all walks of life and to reach out to community builders from all sectors, including citizens, business and the third sector.

At the meeting, participants considered the success of Culture pour tous and their flagship event les Journées de la culture in providing access to and participation in the arts for over 350,000 people annually in more than 300 Québec municipalities. Participants were unanimous in endorsing a national public arts engagement campaign.

Representatives of the Canadian Public Arts Funders briefed the meeting on their collaborative approach aimed at improving communications, efficiency and transparency for the benefit of artists, arts organizations, and Canadians. The importance of coordinating networks and communications was applauded by all.

The founding meeting of Canada’s Performing Arts Alliance drew together the board members of the Canadian Dance Assembly, Opera.ca, Orchestras Canada and the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres. Together we represent over 850 performing artists and arts organizations across the country. Representatives of l’Association des théâtres francophones du Canada, Canadian Arts Presenters Association, the Canadian Conference of the Arts and the Association of Canadian Choral Communities were invited to this first-ever gathering.

Canada’s Performing Arts Alliance is committed to being at the forefront of arts advocacy in Canada, working with the Canadian Arts Coalition, the Canadian Conference for the Arts, Imagine Canada and others.

For more information contact:

Canadian Dance Assembly
Shannon Litzenberger
Executive Director
416-515-8444
shannon@dancecanada.net
www.dancecanada.net

Orchestras Canada
Katherine Carleton
Executive Director
416-366-8834
katherine@oc.ca
www.oc.ca

Opera.ca
Christina Loewen
Director of Operations
416-591-7222
c_loewen@opera.ca
www.opera.ca

PACT
Lucy White
Executive Director
416-595-6455 #11
lucyw@pact.ca
www.pact.ca

It is his intention—and we enthusiastically agree—to put the restored facility into the hands of the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. This will guarantee sound operation and rental agreements affordable by local arts groups. It now remains for the current owner Paul Phillips and Mr. Wall to sit down together and work out an agreement acceptable to both parties. Once that is done, we can look forward to construction, not demolition. What a jewel will now be added to our community!

This is a great day for Vancouver! It clearly demonstrates that we now have a City Council that is sending a positive message of support to arts and culture groups and their audiences. Please email the mayor and members of Council with your thanks and appreciation.

Thank you for your support and help in getting this to happen.

Sincerely,
Tom Durrie
Save the York Theatre Society

Related News

After 38 months working together to restore the Pantages Theatre, I have to report some unfortunate news. The last round of negotiations between the owner of the theatre and the City of Vancouver did not achieve the results we had hoped.

After spending considerable money to hold and maintain the building and adjoining properties (necessary for a fully-functioning and modern theatre), the owner has been forced to put all of the properties up for sale. The FOR SALE signs are now posted. We presume this irreplaceable heritage and community structure will be destroyed.

While this decision is unfortunate in terms of what we have been attempting to achieve over the countless meetings we have held, I respect the owner’s decision.

My view is that City Council has rejected an enormous opportunity to help redevelop the DTES in a manner consistent with its own economic and social policies and strategies. However, since the discussion was held at an in-camera council meeting, I do not know the reasons for its decision.

That said, we urgently ask you to register your support for the Pantages Project. The simplest way is an e-mail to: mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca (We would be grateful for a cc of yours to cb0bc@yahoo.com).

We have been told that there is a civic election on November 15.

You might want to note that the Pantages Project is a unique opportunity to do something extraordinary at Hastings and Main, for the people of Vancouver, and for heritage and the arts. There is – literally – nothing else like it in the City. And never will be again.

As you know, this century old theatre seats 650, offers a glorious acoustic, now has a Chinatown entrance at 127 East Pender, would have provided new lobbies and public amenities, an art gallery, and so much more.

In the last three years, over 2,000 people have been shown its wonders and promise. They saw and heard what was possible.

The Pantages Project would also have included 130+ units of housing next door. So much good might have been done.

Permit me to quote the owner: “We tried for over three years to find a financially viable proposal that would satisfy the many interests at stake. Ultimately, we could not. The Pantages was a very powerful idea. The theatre, the housing, the retail businesses – the combination was extraordinary. I was proud to have been a part of it. I am so disappointed we could not make it work.”

If we have any chance to reverse the City’s decision, it will now ONLY happen with the strongest support you can offer. TODAY. We’ve tried everything else.

Thank you for considering this,
Peter Fairchild
Chair, Pantages Theatre Arts Society

A Conversation with Sue Harvey

The Arts, Culture, and Heritage Forum of the Downtown Vancouver Association is hosting a conversation with Sue Harvey, the Managing Director of Cultural Services for the City of Vancouver about the 2008-2018 Culture Plan for the City.

Sue Harvey will talk about the City’s Culture Plan, where we are now, and where we are going. Come and learn how the City of Vancouver could be impacted.

The following are links to the five pdf reports on the 2008 – 2018 Culture Plan.
Report One: Culture Plan 2008 – Phase One Implementation
Report Two: Review of Grant Programs
Report Three: Review of Public Art Program Revisions and Plans
Report Four: Cultural Facilities Priorities Plan
Report Five: Culture Tourism

Thursday, September 18, 2008, 8:15 am to 10:00 am
BCIT Downtown Campus – Room 890
555 Seymour Street Vancouver, BC V6B 3H6

All of these treasures are currently at risk of disappearing or being altered to the point that their heritage value becomes questionable. The most important thing missing from our understanding is that there is no heritage protection in the city, the province or the country that would stop anyone from demolishing a heritage building if they chose to take that action.

The Vogue Theatre is an excellent example. Its future is right now up in the air and even though it is a National Historic Site the current owner could decide to tear it down, and though he may be delayed by the process, there is nothing that would actually get in his way.

The fact that these buildings are threatened and there is nothing in place to protect them is largely unknown to the general public. This is an important overarching story that needs to be told.

Janet Leduc
Heritage Vancouver

The question is always: Do we need another theatre, and who would use it? Here’s the answer: In 2006 the Coal Harbour Arts Complex Society led an inventory of existing performance spaces and a survey of potential theatre users. The following is a condensation of the results.

The inventory found that there were 22 venues seating under 500, divided up as follows:

• Under 200 seats: 9
• 200-350 seats: 9
• 350-500 seats: 4
• Total Theatres: 22

A closer look is more revealing.

Of the venues under 200 seats, the Arts Club Revue, Studio 58, Pacific Theatre, and Jericho Arts Centre are used, almost exclusively, by resident companies. This leaves Robson Square (200), Western Front (100), Vancouver Art Gallery (150), Heritage Hall (150), and Maison de la Francophonie (100). Not one of these is actually a theatre or purpose built performance space.

The 200-350 seat range includes the Waterfront Theatre (240), the Vancouver Academy of Music Recital Hall (284), the WISE Hall (225), the UBC School of Music Recital Hall (289), Tom Lee Music (240), Performance Works (250), The Roundhouse (250), the Norman Rothstein Theatre (318), and The Dance Centre (240). Anyone who has attended an event or worked in any of these venues knows that, with the exception of the Norman Rothstein Theatre, they are either black boxes, converted spaces, or recital halls.

The four venues seating 350-500 are The Arts Club Granville Island (450), the Vancouver East Cultural Centre (360), the Frederic Wood Theatre at UBC (410), and the Metro Theatre (399). Only the Vancouver East Cultural Centre is generally available for rental.

Anyone looking for theatre space of this size is faced with approximately two choices.

The list of larger (500-3000 seats) venues is considerably smaller. It includes the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (2813), the Orpheum Theatre (2788), the Vancouver Playhouse (673), the Commodore Ballroom (900), the Vogue Theatre (1144), the Centre, former Ford Theatre (1800), the Chan Centre (1200), and the Stanley (650). When it comes to availability and affordability, only the Vogue Theatre would be a consideration for local groups.

A local performing arts group looking for a dedicated theatrical venue of practical size has only three choices, each of which comes with its own unique problems.

A Theatre – Who Needs it?

In February of 2006, a survey of 220 local arts groups was conducted in order to assess potential usage of performance venues of various sizes.

• 200 seats: 401 uses
• 450 seats: 359 uses
• 600 seats: 155 uses
• 1000 seats: 117 uses
• 1500 seats: 15 uses
• 1800 seats: 195 uses

In conclusion, theatres of the size of the York Theatre (450-500) and the Pantages Theatre (650), there would be in the range of 514 to 915 uses per year. Indications are that a theatre the size of the Vogue (1144) could attract 132 uses by local groups. These figures do not include bookings by touring or out-of-town performing organizations.

Of notable significance is that each of these three historic theatres was purpose built. That is they are proscenium theatres with dedicated seating (each has a balcony), appropriate audience amenities, dressing rooms, and fly galleries. And each theatre has played a significant role in Vancouver’s cultural history.

Looking at these figures, it is hard to believe that the York Theatre, the Pantages Theatre, and the Vogue Theatre are dark, empty, and unused. All three require repair, restoration, and revitalization. All three await the support of the City, of corporations, and of individuals. We hear much talk of Vancouver as a “Creative City,” now is the time to turn that idea into a reality.

Survey information was taken, with thanks, from:
Coal Harbour Arts Complex Planning Study + Program Assessment
Created by Bing Thom Architects for the Coal Harbour Arts Complex Society

A purchaser has come in with a strong offer and has bought the York Theatre. It’s a done deal.

Because of privacy legislation, the realtor is not allowed to tell us the name of the purchaser or what their intentions might be. We can only hope that it is someone who is going to use the building for its original and intended use otherwise we can say goodbye to one of the finest and most historic theatres in Vancouver.

Thank you all for your support, letters, and interest. Who knows, there may be more work ahead, especially if a demolition is planned. As most of you know, we’ve just lost the Imperial Theatre, built in 1912, running as the Venus Theatre for the past 20 or so years, now demolished without notice. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems to me that those of us who work in the arts spend a lot of time talking about “if only” and “what if” without any action.

The York Theatre was on the market for over a year, and, except for Jayne Holmes valiant effort, for which she deserves full credit, no one in the arts community has stepped forward and said, “I’m going to make this happen!”

Please again accept my thanks for everything. Maybe we’ve learned a  valuable lesson.

Onwards and upwards,
Tom Durrie

Save the York Theatre Society