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Home My WebLink AboutCSD-08-04 Cl~-mgron REPORT COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT Meeting: General Purpose and Administration Committee ~\\ Date: May 17, 2004 Resolution #t,Oft ::J.,S-O~ Report #: cSD.OS-04 File#: By-law #: Subject: Grant Eligibility - Driftwood Theatre Group Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report CSD-08-04 be received; 2. THAT Council consider the request for funding from the Driftwood Theatre Group under the Municipal Grant Program; and 3. THAT if Council approves the request for funding for the Driftwood Theatre Group, it be paid upon the completion of their scheduled performance at the Visual Arts Centre. /' / "')'L { P II R . db' ,.ta~ ~ ,,' '-': L'-':L~ eVlewe y: '- ' Franklin Wu Chief Administrative Officer JPC/BT/wg CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1C 3A6 T (905)623-3379 F (905)623-5506 1001 REPORT NO.: cSD-OS-04 PAGE 2 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 At the April 26, 2004 meeting of Council, correspondence Item D-21 in reference to the Driftwood Theatre Group request for financial assistance was referred to the Community Services Department for consideration under the Municipal Grant Program. 2.0 COMMENTS 2.1 The Driftwood Theatre Group is a non-profit organization celebrating its 10th Anniversary season. The Group offers world-class professional theatre performances throughout the province. The group is made up almost entirely of students and volunteers. They perform primarily at outdoor community venues such as the Visual Arts Centre. Their admission fee is based on Pay-What-You- Can. There are four performances scheduled in Durham this season; Parkwood Estate in Oshawa, Trafalgar Castle in Whitby, Palmer Park in Port Perry; and, The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington. 2.2 The Driftwood Theatre Group is eligible for grant funding as their Head Office is located within the Region of Durham (Oshawa) and their service may be considered a direct benefit to the residents of Clarington. 2.3 Staff would note the request for funding was received as correspondence and is a general appeal for funding. As part of the criteria for funding is based on being a benefit to the residents of Clarington, the payment of the grant should not be processed until the completion of their performance at the Visual Arts Centre. 3.0 FINANCIAL 3.1 At the Council meeting of March 22, 2004, Council approved the 2004 Municipal Grant Report and allocated $64,900.00 in funding to support various initiatives presented by local community groups. The total grant funds identified in the 2004 Operating Budget is $76,000.00. A further amount of $500.00 was recently awarded to the Canadian Calendar Girls Inc. The balance remaining in the 2004 Grant Account is $10,600.00 to address future requests Council may receive throughout the year. Should Council approve the request for funding from the Driftwood Theatre Group, there are currently sufficient funds available for that purpose. Attachments: Attachment #1 - Correspondence - Driftwood Theatre Group Interested party to be advised of Council's decision: Driftwood Theatre Group 57 Division Street Oshawa, ON L1 G 5L8 1002 RECEIV~i.) ATTACHMENT #1 TO REPORT #CSD-08-04 APR 1 3 2UU4 For Immediate Release: March 24, 2004 Media Contact: Jeremy Smith 416-785.9291 MUNIOImwdora~lift MA~~ 10lh Anniversary Season in Jeopardy reatens cherished outdoor summer theatre prior to its landmark 10th season For nearly ten years the Driftwood Theatre Group's cherished outdoor summer theatre tour has weathered heat, humidity, rain, bugs, power outages, vehicle breakdowns, and even one tornado in its continUing efforts to share the magic of William Shakespeare's plays with communities across Ontario. Now, at the onset of its 10th Anniversary Season, Driftwood is finally facing a challenge which may prove insurmountable - lack of funding. Founded in 1995 by Artistic Director and General Manager D. Jeremy Smith, Driftwood began as a small organization, made up almost entirely of students and volunteers. Driven by Mr. Smith's goal to share exciting, accessible theatre with ' communities in the Durham Region, the company initially provided its Pay-What-You. .. Can performances to four communities in Durham (Oshawa, Whitby, Bowmanville, , Il>rt Perry). After Mr. Smith's graduation from Queen's University, the company st~wly grew, and now presents a professional season of outdoor summer theatre to munities all across South Ontario. "Many people fail to realize that, quite a few s 0, Driftwood graduated into the world of professional theatre,' says Smith, _ at we now employ the finest emerging artists and technicians in the province. A -actor which increases our expenses, but also contributes immeasurably to the quality . work we produce." Driftwood has worked with young artists who have graduated to ,. ccessfuI careers working with Soulpepper Theatre, The Tarragon Theatre, countless gional theatres across Ontario and both the Shaw and Stratford Festivals. "Perhaps ~ our own detriment,' continues Jeremy," we have not actively engaged in educating the public about the very real cost of producing professional, touring theatre. Well, we ---' . , ~rtainIy need them to be aware of, and willing to support, the cost ofit now." ~.~- ; '-- Despite continuing efforts, and the recent assistance of The Trillium Foundation, The Ii;! "i;aidlaw Foundation, Ontario Power Generating and Driftwood's many Touring . , '-, Partners across the province, Driftwood is feeling the financial crunch. After nine Of~j . years of sharing classical theatre experiences with over 30 communities (most of which j~:; do not have ready access to professional, classical theatre) and nearly 50,000 people, .", ' '0 Driftwood finds itself in a deficit position and without the funding required to present .2396, its l()th Season. "What should be a celebration for us, isn't," offers Jeremy, "the board of .4251 , directors has decided that Driftwood cannot experience another deficit season, and the """j:J staff fully agrees. The stress on the company, and its members, would be too great. ' , , Without the necessary funding, we will have no choice but to put our dreams to rest for good." aJ~AII~AU; AUlmll nUllIAtIl 88636 4363 RR0001 The cost of producing theatre is challenge enough. Most not.for-profit theatres recuperate 50% of their costs through ticket sales. In its efforts to share theatre with many communities in an accessible fashion, Driftwood adds an even greater challenge to its financial burden. There is no fixed admission cost for Driftwood performances (a philosophical choice that the company refuses to part with). Jeremy explains, "The suggested contribution for a Driftwood performance is $12 per person. The average actual contribution is $5 per person (and sometimes as little as $3.50). The true value of each ticket is nearly $35 per person. What this means, essentially, is that our audience revenue accounts for less than 15% of our total annual budget." The remainder of financing for the company's annual budget ($185,000 for 2004) is generated through individual giving, corporate sponsorship, foundation and government assistance. ~:~",,,,,!-lltTmu ,'riviii@~re.com ';:'-:.""..:7'.-.:,--,,","':__., ' , WWw.driftwoodIheatre.com - 1003 ~ For 2004, The Driftwood Theatre Group is still $70,000 short of its fundraising goals. "We are desperately looking for the support of the community," pleads Jeremy, "to ensure that our Dream doesn't die." The company has set a firm fundraising deadline of May 15, 2004. Unless considerable progress is made by that point, The Driftwood Theatre Group will be closing the doors on its much loved summer tours for good. "If someone is tempted to think that their contribution, no matter how small or large, won't make a difference," says Jeremy, "we are encouraging them to think otherwise. It really is now or never - and the last thing we want to see is the end of our dream." Driftwood offers excellent across-the-Province recognition to corporate sponsors who contribute as little as $1,500. AB a not-fur-profit charitable organization, any donation made to the company can also he recognized by a charitable receipt for tax purposes. Anyone interested in making a financial contribution to the company is invited to contact Lanie Treen, Director of Development at 416-538-7569, or by email, ltreen@driftwoodtheatre.com. Without the necessary funding, Driftwood will have no option but to cancel its current plans for a 1()lh Anniversary production of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The commemorative musical production (2004 marks the first return to Dream since the company's inaugural season) reunites director D. Jeremy Smith (original Puck from Dream 1995) with the a capella music team ofLanie Treen, Kevin Fox and Tom Lillington (Love's Labours Lost, As You Like It), and original Dream cast memher Steven Burley returning as Oheron, King of the Faeries. Planned stops on the tour include visits to each of the four communities on the inaugural season; Parkwood Estste (Oshawa), Trafalgar Castle (Whitby). The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington (Bowmanville), and Palmer Park (port Perry). The Driftwood Theatre Group - Production History OUTDOOR SUMMER THEATRE WINTER THEATRE A Midsummer Night's Dream (1995) WUd Abandon, by Daniel MacIvor (1996) Romeo & Juliet (1996) The Story of a Sinking Man, Much Ado About Nothing (1997) by Morris Panych (1997) Macbeth (1998) Libby (Staged Reading), Twelfth Night (1999) by Steven Burley (1998) The Two Gentlemen of Verona (2000) Libby (Staged Reading), 2001 Othello (2001) The Boy with the Mark (Staged Reading). The Comedy of Errors (2001) by Chad HershIer As You Like It (2002) Trafalgar Hamlet (2002) Love's Labours Lost (2003) Trafalgar 24 (2003) " 1004