Tuesday
Apr272010
CBC News -City approves $2M for Pumphouse Theatre
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 11:36PM
FROM CBC News - Calgary - City approves $2M for Pumphouse Theatre.
Last Updated: Monday, April 26, 2010 | 4:36 PM MT
An intense lobbying effort by Calgary's Pumphouse Theatre and its supporters paid off Monday as a city committee approved $2 million for the theatre's expansion.
Earlier this month, a tie vote by the same committee resulted in the rejection of the funding request. At the time, aldermen were unsure about the business plan and business model.
Since then, the theatre's staff met with key aldermen to go over the proposal and supporters sent letters urging the city committee to back the community theatre centre, and in turn, arts in Calgary.
In front of several theatre supporters on Monday, four aldermen — Diane Colley-Urquhart, Andre Chabot, Ric McIver and Jim Stevenson — who had earlier rejected the bid changed their support, allowing the committee to approve the money by a vote of 14 to one.
"Had I not had the business plan and all the information, I wouldn't have supported them at all," Colley-Urquhart, explaining her change of heart.
"Fourteen to one far exceeds our expectations," said Scott McTavish, the Pumphouse's executive director. "We're quite happy with council's decision today and it sends a strong message to the federal government that this is supported by Calgary and the citizens of Calgary."
The almost 100-year-old theatre needs to fix leaky roofs and a furnace held together with duct tape, as well as expand its current area, arguing that Calgary lacks small to mid-sized theatre spaces for performance and rehearsals.
The Pumphouse project is slated to cost a total of $10.5 million. The city gave the project $2 million in 2006, but the theatre was forced to ask for more after the provincial government pulled out of a $5-million commitment.
McTavish said with Monday's municipal money, the theatre can now apply for a federal grant for $3 million. The Pumphouse still has to raise the final $3.5 million; so far it's reached $325,000.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2010/04/26/calgary-pumphouse-theatre-money-expansion-city.html#ixzz0mN0YrQGE
City approves $2M for Pumphouse Theatre
Last Updated: Monday, April 26, 2010 | 4:36 PM MT
An intense lobbying effort by Calgary's Pumphouse Theatre and its supporters paid off Monday as a city committee approved $2 million for the theatre's expansion.
Earlier this month, a tie vote by the same committee resulted in the rejection of the funding request. At the time, aldermen were unsure about the business plan and business model.
Since then, the theatre's staff met with key aldermen to go over the proposal and supporters sent letters urging the city committee to back the community theatre centre, and in turn, arts in Calgary.
In front of several theatre supporters on Monday, four aldermen — Diane Colley-Urquhart, Andre Chabot, Ric McIver and Jim Stevenson — who had earlier rejected the bid changed their support, allowing the committee to approve the money by a vote of 14 to one.
"Had I not had the business plan and all the information, I wouldn't have supported them at all," Colley-Urquhart, explaining her change of heart.
"Fourteen to one far exceeds our expectations," said Scott McTavish, the Pumphouse's executive director. "We're quite happy with council's decision today and it sends a strong message to the federal government that this is supported by Calgary and the citizens of Calgary."
Theatre still needs to raise $3.5M
The almost 100-year-old theatre needs to fix leaky roofs and a furnace held together with duct tape, as well as expand its current area, arguing that Calgary lacks small to mid-sized theatre spaces for performance and rehearsals.
The Pumphouse project is slated to cost a total of $10.5 million. The city gave the project $2 million in 2006, but the theatre was forced to ask for more after the provincial government pulled out of a $5-million commitment.
McTavish said with Monday's municipal money, the theatre can now apply for a federal grant for $3 million. The Pumphouse still has to raise the final $3.5 million; so far it's reached $325,000.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2010/04/26/calgary-pumphouse-theatre-money-expansion-city.html#ixzz0mN0YrQGE
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