By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. June 21, 2013. With a full 13 member Board of Directors compliment in place, the Performing Arts Centre focuses more tightly on the business of finding a replacement for the previous Executive Director.
The Burlington Theatre Board Inc., the organization that oversees the operation of the Centre, a not for profit corporation and represent the public interest. It is made up of 13 people who serve staggered terms of office.
It’s an attractive building and a very people friendly building – it just doesn’t appear YET, to have enough friends.
Last year was a tough one for the organization. Rental revenues were down and there was serious concern at city hall over the need for increased financial support – in excess of what was expected. Council wanted changes made and went along with the financial requirement in the 2013 budget but made it clear there was going to be a different business case put in place. Councillor John Taylor who chairs the Budget and Corporate Services committee, has the BPAC people back before him sometime in October. When he was arranging for BPAC to return he made it clear that “this was not going to be a simple 10 minute delegation with questions and answers to follow”. Taylor was going to get right into the sand box with these people and work to ensure there was a plan that the public could live with.
It was shortly after that meeting that the former Executive Director decided she would return to her roots in Alberta.
A number of resignations within the Burlington Theatre Board had taken place and there was a call made to the community for replacements. With that task completed the Board was able to focus fully on finding the next Executive Director.
The Centre has an excellent program that will take them right into the spring of next year
There were over 90 applications for the Executive Director position, which Chair Burgess believes “speaks to the positive reputation the Centre has developed in its short life within the industry”. That’s one way of looking at it.
The search committee includes Allan Pearson, Peter Ashmore, Ilene Elkaim, Burlington city manager Jeff Fielding and Chair Richard Burgess. They are down to their short list and expect to be able to announce a replacement before the end of July and ideally have the new person behind a desk for Labour Day.
The first two people to enter the Main Theatre for a paid performance hand their tickets to an usher.
The next twelve months are critical for the Centre. A new Executive Director will give the day-to-day operations a boost but the Centre needs more than some bucking up at the staff level. The place hasn’t caught the interest of the overall public – at least not yet. The Centre is not yet seen as “our place” with the majority of the population. It does have its advocates and a small core of solid ticket buyers but it isn’t seen as an integral part of the city that is supported by everyone.
The Brant Street Pier with all its troubles was clearly a place the public took to in less than two days once it had been opened by the Burlington Teen Tour Band.
It was the Official opening night – the place was all gussied up – and it looked great. Cogeco Cable covered the event with five cameras. The Family Room, shown here, was a delight to be in. The ticket price of $400+ was a little too steep and some had to be given away to ensure all the seats were filled.
While the economic growth of the city isn’t dependent on the centre if we are to be seen as a vibrant community – the arts are a large part of that equation and the focal point for the arts has to be the Centre. We do need however to stop talking in superlatives about the place. It is a fine building with a good Main Theatre as well as a smaller Community Theatre. The most outstanding aspect of the place is the Family Room with the balcony surrounding the space. It also has probably the biggest bar in the city, certainly the nicest – although they could pump up the wine selection a bit.
Will the centre become an election issue in 2014? Hopefully not – because the arts always seem to take it in the shins when it comes to funding. Burlington wants to talk about “shaving and paving” its roads and the massive infrastructure deficit we face.
Councillor Rick Craven sits on the BPAC Board along with the Mayor. Better reports to the public on what’s going on over there would help – and not just how wonderful the program is.
Mayor Goldring can be direct and to the point when he wants to be – his public deserves better reporting on what happens at the BPAC Board.
There is an interesting year ahead for the Burlington Performing Arts centre. If the Board of Directors can get the selection of a new Executive Director right and work out a business plan that is sound and satisfies the city – we will be off to a good start.
The politicians we place on that Board need however to do a better job of keeping their fellow council members and the public at large up to date on what is happening.
We hear next to nothing from Councillor Craven and the Mayor, who sit on the Board, about what’s going on over there.
