FIFTH MEETING OF THE YEAR 2008 -
MARKHAM THEATRE ADVISORY BOARD
TOWN OF
MARKHAM
Canada Room, Markham Civic Centre
Monday, May
26th, 2008
MINUTES
ATTENDANCE:
Present Staff
Mario
Miranda, Chair Bonnie
Armstrong
David
Banfield John
Ryerson
Simon
Gulden Allan
Seabrooke
Jennifer
Kah Debbie
Watson
Pat
Kincaid Wendy
Woof-Severn
Elizabeth
Richardson
Isabel
Schnapp
Tony
Wong, Regional Councillor
Regrets
Dennis
Cline
Nancy
Cogger
Neil
Fernandez
Brian
Harvey
Genny
Landis
Michael
Landry
The
meeting convened at the hour of 5:35 p.m. with Mario Miranda in the Chair.
1.0 CALL TO ORDER AND CHAIR’S OPENING
REMARKS
·
thanks
for coming
2.0 ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MARKHAM
THEATRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD ON APRIL 28TH,
2008.
RECOMMENDED: THAT THE MINUTES OF THE MARKHAM THEATRE FOR
PERFORMING ARTS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD ON APRIL 28TH, 2008, BE
ADOPTED AS CIRCULATED.
3.0 ADDITIONS/CHANGES
TO AGENDA
4.0 BUSINESS
ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
5.0 MANAGER’S
REPORT
5.1 June
Events
·
two
dark day compared to one in 2007
·
very
busy month
·
three
new clients
·
Taste
of Asia event moved to July
5.2 PES
Sales Update
·
up
$20K in ticket sales over the first three days compared to last season
·
season
launch very good evening; lot of positive feedback
·
good
sales results for artists appearing at launch
6.0 SUB-COMMITTEE
REPORTS
6.1 Financial Performance and Business Plan
Tracking - Brian
Harvey, Chair, Mario Miranda, Pat Kincaid, David Banfield, Michael Landry
·
expenses not
quite as hoped but manageable
·
way ahead on
dark days, i.e., less than last year
·
sponsorship
on-going challenge
·
PES ended on
a strong note
·
not too far
behind budget
6.2 Fundraising and Sponsorship
Development
- Neil
Fernandez, Chair, Jennifer Kah, Genny Landis, Dennis Cline, Nancy Cogger, David
Tsubouchi, Wendy Woof-Severn, Simon Gulden
·
$28,500
from spring 2008
·
2008
budget - $80K; have $58,500 to date
·
need
to make up $21,500 for balance of the year
·
$20K
confirmed for spring 2009
·
Fieldgate
Homes sponsoring Chuck Mangione
·
Staybridge
Suites has confirmed 51 of 105 rooms needed for season
·
new
manager of Hilton Suites wants to get involved again
·
upcoming
meeting with Howard Johnson’s and Comfort Inn
·
also
meeting with Angus Glen
·
looking
for items for gala silent auction
·
house
program inexpensive way to advertise
·
think
within range of reaching goal
·
nice
if September could be spent working on 25th Anniversary rather than
2008-2009 season but no strategy in place yet; very preliminary
·
PowerStream,
Allstate and the Toronto Star have already expressed interest
·
opportunities
to make whole year a celebration and leave a legacy at the end of the year
6.3 25th Anniversary Committee
– Bonnie
Armstrong, Dennis Cline, Simon Gulden
·
met after
last board meeting
·
looked at
grants
·
open house
·
community
open house; contact clients re interest
·
The Messiah
in December, 2009
·
spoke to the
agent for Anne Murray re offer; key to gala
7.0 NEW BUSINESS
7.1 Use of
Endowment Fund
·
$300K+
currently in fund
·
established
to better the theatre
·
doesn’t go
towards general operating expenses
·
info re
digital projector and screen; don’t have one and rent each time
·
seven rentals
last year
·
Brampton and
Richmond Hill have them
·
could fill in
dark days – films and documentaries
·
$46K + taxes,
installed
·
need a
business case; defensive strategy against Richmond Hill taking business
·
want to be
state of the art re equipment
·
Richmond Hill
showing opening ceremonies of the Olympics
·
have had
questions from contributors as to what is being done with the funds
·
board has to
approve the use of the funds and don’t want to spend it without knowing all the
details
·
need business
plan at next meeting
7.2 Royal
Conservatory of Music – Programming
·
propose series
of eight small program – faculty and graduates – to attract students and
community
·
Kerry
Stratton interested in supporting
·
discussed
several ideas, e.g. – soloist and pianist
·
could also
use Celebration of the Arts winners
·
$5,000
expenses per show
·
$20 ticket;
break even at 55%
·
take
advantage of EyeGo and UGo
·
Thursdays and
Sundays; first show in October
·
enhance with
money from endowment fund?
·
too late for
season brochure
·
some of onus
on RCM to advertise/promote
·
professional
artists will be the draw but not necessarily the only line-up
·
if ticket
price affordable and programs attractive, will draw audience from other
locations
·
agree sounds
attractive but what is RCM’s experience re draw and ticket prices?
·
large number
of students in Markham; market is there
·
good use of
endowment fund, if possible, however, don’t want to use to finance a loss if that
happens
·
not supposed
to be for operating expenses
·
originally
was a bursary use; not always meant for capital projects
·
believe
couple of amendments as per use to “enhance theatre experience”
·
check terms
of reference
·
“Circle of
Stars” donations allocate spending three ways; one is to support PES
programming
·
only two
shows in 2008 so $10K budget for year
·
exciting idea
if RCM hasn’t done anything similar elsewhere
·
shame if not
successful because we didn’t do enough
·
invite other
groups to advertise and promote
·
premature at
this time; need options at next meeting
7.3 Arts York
·
no change yet
in program at UHS
·
proposal for
a school in Richmond Hill
·
Arts West
won’t have dance
·
currently
audition 600 but only accept 100
·
got approval
for Specialist High School Major – Arts & Culture
·
co-op
component and certifications
·
enhance
current programs
8.0 DATE OF
NEXT MEETING
Monday,
June 23rd, 2008, 5:30 p.m.
57
Goldring Crescent, Markham
9.0 ADJOURNMENT
·
6:45 p.m.