ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: March 5, 1998

Author/Local: A. Niwinski, 6007

CC File No. 2301

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Director, Office of Cultural Affairs
SUBJECT:	Information Report on 1997 Baxter Fund Grants

INFORMATION

The General Manager of Community Services submits this report for INFORMATION.

COUNCIL POLICY

Under a long standing agreement with the City, the Vancouver Foundation provides funds on an annual basis from its Donald Alexander Baxter Fund toward special theatre rent grants for cultural organizations that occasionally perform in the Civic Theatres. The Office of Cultural Affairs administers these grants on behalf of the Foundation.

In accordance with Council’s decision of February 7, 1991, Baxter grants are approved and disbursed at the discretion of the Directors of Cultural Affairs and Finance, in consultation with the Vancouver Foundations. The Office of Cultural Affairs provides Council with an annual summary of Baxter Grant allocations.

PURPOSE

This report is the summary of Baxter grants provided for 1997 performances in the Civic Theatres.

BACKGROUND

Since 1984, the Donald Alexander Baxter Fund has assisted non-profit performing arts organizations with the costs of renting the three Civic Theatres: the Vancouver Playhouse, the Orpheum and the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The program is designed to support professional and non-professional groups that can benefit from the experience of performing in a centrally located and well-equipped facility, increasing their public profiles, and helping them expand their audiences.

The amount of the annual payment from the Foundation is determined by the terms of Mr. Baxter’s will and by the income the fund generates. For Council’s information, more detailed program guidelines are attached in Appendix A.

DISCUSSION

The balance in the City Baxter account prior to allocations for 1997 theatre uses was $39,021. Grants to five organizations totalling $23,500 were approved for 1997 performances in the Civic Theatres, leaving a balance of $15,521 at the end of the year. These are summarized in Table 1, following.

Table 1

Approval Perf.

Organization Grant $ Date Dates Theatre

Early Music Vancouver 7,000 Oct. 31/96 Mar.8/ 97 Orpheum

Van. Cantata Singers 7,000 Aug.6/96 Mar.19/97 Orpheum

Goh Ballet 3,800 June 18/96 June 6,7/97 Playhouse

Dancing on the Edge 3,800 April 22/97 July 4,5/97 Playhouse

India Music Society 1,900 June 25,97 July 6/97 Playhouse

TOTAL $23,500

CONCLUSION

From its inception to the end of 1997, the Baxter Fund has provided 113 grants totalling $382,660 to 47 non-profit cultural organizations, primarily for music and dance events. The five events supported in 1997 represented the lowest use of the Fund in recent years. As a result of the lower demand, no transfer of funds from the Vancouver Foundation’s Baxter account to the City was necessary last year. New requests are currently coming in, and staff will be asking the Vancouver Foundation to transfer its 1998 Baxter Fund allocation to the City’s account later this month, when the City’s annual Baxter report to the Foundation is submitted.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver