By Pepper Parr
May 20, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
There is a scene in the movie ET where the lost alien says “Home” – he just wanted to go home.
That’s the reason Brian McCurdy tendered his resignation earlier this week to the Board of the Performing Arts Centre. McCurdy’s wife remained in Kingston when McCurdy took on the job – he commuted on weekends but it go to be more than he wanted to continue doing – he will leave his office in October.
He said he has enjoyed his time in Burlington but now he wants to retire and spend more time with his wife in Kingston.
Retiring Executive Director leaves the Burlington Performing Arts Centre in better shape than he got it it. He will be missed.
McCurdy seemed prepared to stay on a little longer if that is what was needed to find and break in whoever is hired to replace him – but he will not celebrate Christmas in this city.
McCurdy has offered to serve as a talent scout for the Hiring committee the board will establish. He seems to be leaving on the best of terms
In his almost two years as the Executive Director of the Performing Arts Centre he has improved the program and gotten most of the past financial difficulties behind him.
He is proud of the three local production groups that are now making significant use of the facilities. The Todering Biped, the Koogle Theatre and Nortsur productions have each mounted performances. Some were better than others – but at least community groups are using the space.
“It takes time” said McCurdy “to build an audience for new artistic endeavours. It took time for the public to get used to the size of the subsidy the BPAC needs and will probably always need.
The Performing Arts Centre now has a solid reputation and draws audiences from Toronto – they advertise regularly in the Globe and Mail
Asked which performance was he most proud of bringing to Burlington: the Pat Metheny Unity Group.
If the Board has the good sense to involve McCurdy in the hiring process we will be well served.
The disturbing part of all this is that we had first class talent at BPAC – now we have to go looking all over again.
Home – that summed it up
