ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: January 6, 1999
Author/Local:AN/6007
RTS No. 00449
CC File No. 2300

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Director, Office of Cultural Affairs, Social Planning
SUBJECT:	1998 Baxter Fund Grants Information Report

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 Vancouver 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 summarizes the Baxter grants provided for 1998.

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. The grants fund some or all of a recipient's theatre rental fee, but do not cover rehearsals, or any additional costs. They are limited to a maximum of three grants in any given five-year period.

DISCUSSION

Following the Vancouver Foundation's $30,000 contribution to the City's Baxter account for the past year, a total of $45,521 was available for 1998 Baxter rental grants. Grants totalling $40,600 were approved to ten organizations for 14 performances in the Civic Theatres, leaving a balance of $4,921 at the end of the year. The grants are summarized in Table 1, following.

Table 1

Organization Grant $ 1998 Perf. No. of Uses/Theatre

B.C. Choral Federation 5,250 March 8 1 Orpheum

Strathcona Chinese Dance 1,900 May 9 1 Playhouse

Lorita Leung Dance 1,900 May 20 1 Playhouse

Van. New Music 7,000 May 29 1 Orpheum

Dancing on Edge (Firehall Centre) 5,700 June 3, 4, 11 3 Playhouse

Goh Ballet 3,800 June 5, 6 2 Playhouse

Rosario Ancer Flamenco 3,800 June 19, 20 2 Playhouse

Canadian Music Competitions 1,975 October 4 1 Playhouse

B.C. Chamber Orchestra 1,975 November 22 1 Playhouse

Early Music Vancouver 7,300 December 14 1 Orpheum

TOTAL $40,600 14

CONCLUSION

From its inception in 1984 to the end of 1998, the Baxter rental grant program has enabled 50 local arts and cultural organizations to present work in the Civic Theatres. The ongoing developmental value of the program is best exemplified by the fact that it continues to attract new groups, while a number of early Baxter grant recipients are now regular users of the Civic Theatres, receiving annual civic rental grants. Three of the grants approved in 1998 were for first-time applicants: Rosario Ancer Flamenco Arts Society, for its festival; Canadian Music Competitions Society, for its finale concert; and B.C. Chamber Orchestra, for a concert presenting Western and Chinese classical music.

New requests are currently coming in, and, following the submission of the City's annual Baxter report to the Foundation, a $30,000 payment in the City's Baxter account for 1999
has already been made.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver