ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: April 6, 1998
Author/Local: A. Niwinski/6007
CC File No. 2055

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Director, Office of Cultural Affairs
SUBJECT:	1997/98 Grants Equal to Theatre Rent - Spring Update

RECOMMENDATIONS

A. THAT Council confirm its previous approval of 12 rental grants totalling $827,375 for uses of the Civic Theatres in Spring 1998, including decreases in the grants to the Vancouver Symphony ($14,000) and Playhouse Theatre Company ($2,850), reflecting reduced need, as listed in Table 1; source of funds to be the 1998 Grants Equal to Theatre Rent budget.

B. THAT Council approve the following additional Spring 1998 rental grants over base levels to two of the 12 organizations listed in Table 1; source of funds to be the 1998 Grants Equal to Theatre Rent budget:

(1) Friends of Chamber Music: $5,700 ( 3 uses - Vancouver Playhouse)
(2) Coastal Jazz & Blues Society: $7,000 ( 1 use - Orpheum )

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of A & B.

COUNCIL POLICY

In 1979 and again in 1983, City Council affirmed the principle that Grants Equal to Theatre Rent are provided to cultural organizations that use the Civic Theatres on a regular basis and have been assigned an annual "base level" of theatre rent uses by Council.

Council approved the current process for Grants Equal to Theatre Rent on July 27, 1995. This provided for seasonally based grants allocated in July of each year for the coming Fall and Spring. However, since the City's budget is based on the calendar year, grants approved for the Spring (January 1 to August 31) have to be reconfirmed by Council in the following year, after the annual Cultural Grants budget is established.

Approval of grant recommendations requires eight affirmative votes.

PURPOSE

In accordance with the process Council established in 1995, this is the first of two annual reports on Grants Equal to Theatre Rent. It recommends confirmation of the Spring 1998 rental grants that Council approved in principle on July 24, 1997, with decreases in the grants to the Vancouver Symphony and Playhouse Theatre Company to reflect their reduced theatre uses this Spring. It also recommends additional grants, over base levels, to the Friends of Chamber Music and Coastal Jazz and Blues Society.

BACKGROUND

On July 24, 1997 Council approved in principle rental grants totalling $844,225 to 12 eligible organizations. In the context of budget uncertainties, no uses over base level were recommended or approved at that time.

DISCUSSION

On February 5, 1998, Council approved a Grants Equal to Theatre Rent budget of $1,451,985 for calendar year 1998, not including the $100,000 allocated in that budget for the Vancouver Symphony Society's rental of office space in the Orpheum Theatre. After reviewing the 12 rental grants for Spring 1998 that Council approved in principle last July, staff are recommending:
1) that grants to eight organizations, as listed in Table 1, be approved as originally allocated;

2) that grants to the Vancouver Symphony and Playhouse Theatre Company be reduced by $14,000 and $2,850 respectively, to reflect a reduction in actual theatre uses this Spring;

3) that additional one-time grants, within the amount originally approved in principle for Spring 1998 rental uses, be approved as follows:

Friends of Chamber Music Society: $5,700 for three uses of the Vancouver Playhouse (over base level) to celebrate the society's 50th anniversary;

Coastal Jazz and Blues Society: $7,000 for one use of the Orpheum (over base level) to present flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia and Sextet, a concert that is part of the Society's audience development strategy in the Latin American community.

As indicated in Table, approval of these recommendations would reduce the original grant allocations for Spring 1998 from $844,225 to $840,075, leaving an unallocated balance of $611,910, to address requests for Fall 1998.

Table 1
Spring 1998 Grant Equal to Rent

Originally Recommended Final
Organization Approved Change Recommendation

Academy of Music 19,250 - 19,250
Ballet B.C. 28,000 - 28,000
Coastal Jazz & Blues Society 7,000 7,000 14,000
Friends of Chamber Music 7,600 5,700 13,300
Music in the Morning 3,500 - 3,500
Van. Bach Choir 20,300 - 20,300
Van. Chamber Choir 10,500 - 10,500
Van. Opera Association 168,000 - 168,000
Van. Playhouse Company 174,325 (2,850) 171,475
Van. Recital Society 12,700 - 12,700
Van. Symphony 363,300 (14,000) 349,300 Joint Ballet/VSO 29,750 - 29,750

TOTAL $844,225 ($4,150) $840,075

CONCLUSION

Approval of the recommendations in this report will complete the rental grant process for the 1997/98 season. The next report on Grants Equal to Rent, which will review applicants' requests for 1998/99 is scheduled for July 1998, allowing applicants time to complete their plans for the coming season.

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