ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: December 20, 2000
Author/Local: ANiwinski/6007

RTS No. 01818

CC File: 2300

Council: January 9, 2001

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Director, Office of Cultural Affairs
SUBJECT:	2000 Baxter Grants Information Report

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services submits the foregoing for Council's INFORMATION.

COUNCIL POLICY

Under a longstanding agreement with the City, the Vancouver Foundation provides funds every year from its Donald Alexander Baxter Fund towards special Civic Theatre rent grants for cultural organizations that do not perform in the Civic Theatres on a regular basis. 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 Foundation. The Office of Cultural Affairs provides City Council with an annual summary of Baxter Grant allocations.

PURPOSE

This report summarizes the Baxter theatre rental grants approved in 2000.

BACKGROUND

Since 1984, the Donald Alexander Baxter Fund has helped 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 supportprofessional and non-professional groups that can benefit from the experience of performing in a centrally located and well-equipped facility, contributing to their artistic development, increasing their public profile, 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. Baxter grants cover some or all of a recipient's theatre rental fee, but not rehearsals or any additional costs. They are limited to a maximum of three grants in any given five-year period. Competitions and events whose main purpose is fundraising for the applicant or a third party do not qualify.

DISCUSSION

For the year 2000 the Vancouver Foundation contributed $30,000 to the City's Baxter account, bringing the total available to $38,796. As summarized in Table 1, 11 grants amounting to $31,660 were approved, leaving a balance of $7,136.

Table 1 - 2000 Baxter Grants

Organization	Grants	Perf. Dates	Uses - Theatre
Pandit Jasraj School of Music	$2,100	March 5	1- Playhouse
BC Chamber Orchestra	$2,050	April 16	1- Playhouse
Van. Lesbian & Gay Choir	$2,050	May 7	1- Playhouse
Van. New Music Society	$2,050	May 30	1- Playhouse
Goh Ballet	$4,100	June 10/11	2 - Playhouse
BC Choral Federation	$2,000	June 11	1 - Orpheum
Chor Leoni Men's Choir	$4,100	June 23/24	2 - Playhouse
Dancing on the Edge Festival	$2,050	July 11	1 - Playhouse
Seniors Research Grp of Chinese Opera	$1,600	Sept. 2	1 - Playhouse
Modern Baroque Opera	$4,260	Oct.20/21	2 - Playhouse
Early Music Vancouver	$5,300	Nov. 15	1 - Orpheum
TOTAL	$31,660		14 performances

CONCLUSION

Since 1984 the Donald Alexander Baxter rental grant program has helped 56 professional and amateur performing arts organizations present their work in the Civic Theatres. A few of these groups have become regular users of the Civic Theatres, qualifying for the City's annual Theatre Rental Grants. Several more long-time Baxter grant recipients will haveaccess to the City program now that it has a small pool of "reserve uses" for professional non-profit organizations that use the Civic Theatres often, but not annually.

In 2000, four first-time applicants received grants through the program, and the overall number of recipients was up from the previous year. In addition, two applications were withdrawn. Largely due to the increase in the number of eligible requests, the Baxter grants provided in 2000 were generally smaller than those approved in previous years, and rarely covered applicants' total rental fees. While the Vancouver Foundation's $32,000 contribution to the fund for 2001 will be $2,000 larger than it was last year, the size of grants in 2001 will depend on the level of demand.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver