ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT


                                                Date: May 12,1997
                                                File No:
                                                C.C. File No. 2301

   TO:       Vancouver City Council

   FROM:     Director, Office of Cultural Affairs

   SUBJECT:  Information Report on 1996 Baxter Fund Grants


   GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

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


   COUNCIL POLICY

   Under a long-term agreement with the City, the Vancouver Foundation
   provides funds on an annual basis from its Donald Alexander Baxter Fund
   toward special theatre rental 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
   Foundation. The Office of Cultural Affairs provides Council with an
   annual summary of Baxter Grant allocations.

   PURPOSE

   This report is the summary of 1996 grant allocations from the Baxter
   Fund.


   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

   A balance of $25,596 in the City's Baxter Fund account at the end of
   1995, together with the Foundation's 1996 allocation of $36,646 to the
   account, brought the total amount available for  1996 Baxter grants to
   $62,242. 

   As summarized in Table 1, grants totalling $34,375 were approved last
   year, including three grants for performances in 1997. This left a
   balance of $21,221 in the City's Baxter account at the end of 1996.

                                    Table 1

                         1996 Baxter Grant Allocations

                                  Approval    Perf
   Organization            Grant  Date       Dates         Theatre

   B.C.Choral Federation  5,100   Jan.9/96   May 12/96     Orpheum
   Lorita Leung Dance     1,875   Feb.21/96  June 1/96     Playhouse
   Gujarati Society       2,550   June 18/96 Aug.4/96      Orpheum
   Chinese Cultural Ctr.  5,625   July 9/96  Aug.17-19/96  Playhouse
   Seniors' Research Grp. 1,425   Aug.26/96  Sept.21/96    Playhouse
   Early Music Van.       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

   TOTAL                $34,375

   *Postponed from Sept. 27,28 1996

   As part of their agreement, the City and Vancouver Foundation have an
   understanding that long-time Baxter Grant recipients that have
   established themselves in one of the Civic Theatres will be considered
   for the City's Grants Equal to Theatre Rent program. Accordingly,
   Council recently transferred funds from the Operating Grant category to
   the Grants Equal to Rent category of the Cultural Grants budget,
   providing for a regular Orpheum Theatre use for the Vancouver Youth
   Symphony Orchestra. The Youth Orchestra had received five Baxter grants
   since 1989.


   CONCLUSION

   From its inception to the end of 1996, the Baxter Fund has provided 111
   grants totalling $377,840 to 46 non-profit cultural organizations.

   During the past two years the Foundation and Office of Cultural Affairs
   have tried to increase awareness of the Baxter Grant program among
   culturally distinct groups. The main focus of that effort was the
   development of a brochure with content summaries in six languages (see
   Appendix A). The brochure was mailed to over 150 groups, and is
   available for pickup at the Civic Theatres.

   In 1995, four of the eight groups that applied were from distinct
   communities. In 1996, five of the eight grants approved went to
   culturally distinct organizations, including two first-time applicants:
   the Gujarati Society and the Seniors' Research Group of Chinese Opera
   and Music. Dance and music continue to be the main activities supported
   by the fund.


                                   * * * * *