With the performing arts in a state of uneasy flux for the past half a year, theatre heads are taking proactive steps to secure the future of their industry. In a letter to Leo Glavine, the Nova Scotian Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage, artistic directors Jeremy Webb of Neptune Theatre and Ken Schwartz of Two Planks and a Passion lead the charge in addressing the need for emergency funding for the arts and have called for immediate action.
“We were the fastest closed industry (overnight) and we will likely be the very last to reopen our doors,” states Webb in his letter. “Arts and culture are the heartbeat of a community. I fear that without bold, robust and innovative assistance this theatre and many like it will cease to exist.”
Ken Schwartz lays out in his letter that the two primary components echoed by communications from organizations across the province are the need for unrestricted funds, and the time is now.
“This period is, without question, challenging for virtually every citizen in Nova Scotia. Our organizations, as you know, are paying, and will continue to pay, one of the highest prices for ensuring our collective safety and well-being in this province. In order to ensure that we survive the coming year, we urgently require your attention in this matter.”
The letter from Two Planks and a Passion theatre is signed by major members of the Nova Scotian theatre community, including Christian Barry of 2b Theatre, Nancy Morgan of Theatre Nova Scotia and Andrea Boyd of Festival Antigonish, among others.
It is clear that the need for attention is felt across the board for Atlantic theatre, and that while there have been some steps in adjusting funding, it simply isn’t enough for the struggles faced by theatre creators. These letters helmed by Jeremy Webb and Ken Schwartz speak out to the fears and difficulties of the community at large, and hopefully, the call for action will be answered.
The Honourable Leo Glavine
Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage
1741 Brunswick St.,3rd Floor
P.O. Box 456, STN Central
Halifax, NS
B3J 2R5
Dear Minister Glavine,
I am writing to you today from my office at Neptune Theatre, Nova Scotia’s regional theatre. A theatre that employs many hundreds of artists and technicians, administrators and support staff each and every year. In a regular year we see Nova Scotians flock to our building to be entertained and to feed the local economy.
That work ended on March 13th. We have cancelled shows, postponed an entire season of theatre (July 2020 – July 2021.) We have laid off many staff taking Neptune Theatre down to a skeleton staff of twelve. Lost revenue for the first five months of the pandemic totals $1.7 million.
Four months ago you indicated to the arts and culture sector that millions of dollars of support would be forthcoming. We are still awaiting news of those funds and how they will be dispersed. Talking with colleagues across the Province brings up two questions: is help coming and when?
As requested, we provide an analysis of our situation and a prediction of the impact of COVID-19 and the resulting shutdown into 2021.
Can you update us on any emergency funding for the arts and culture sector? Can you now follow up with us and ease the blind panic that knowing nothing causes?
We were the fastest closed industry (overnight) and we will likely be the very last to reopen our doors. While some sectors are partially re-opening, much of the arts and culture sector is
unable to operate. Members of the public will take some persuading to return to communal activities with studies showing we are two to three years away from any hint of normalcy.
Arts and culture are the heartbeat of a community. I fear that without bold, robust and innovative assistance this theatre and many like it will cease to exist.
This is not just an HRM issue.
Neptune reaches every corner of the province. Our annual school tour introduces live theatre to students across the province. Schools from all over attend special student matinees at the theatre in Halifax. In the last two years, Neptune has introduced American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted programming and Relaxed Performances so more Nova Scotians can enjoy the magic of live theatre. The theatre has also mounted performances of productions like Mamma Mia and the popular Argyle Street Kitchen Party at theatres from Cape Breton to the Valley.
Neptune helps to build Nova Scotia’s creative capacity through new play development initiatives, training, mentoring, bursary and scholarship programs. It is the single largest
employer of artists, designers, directors and theatre educators in the region.
Neptune Theatre creatively and fiscally supports many Atlantic Canadian theatre companies, arts organisations and individual artists.
Without extraordinary support from the provincial government, we are in real danger of witnessing generational damage to the ecology of arts and culture institutions and the
freelance artists that work with them.
We have existed these past few months on sheer defiance, will and entrepreneurial guts. The federal government wage subsidy has been vital and a mechanism to live by.
We have pivoted and fought to create some semblance of product. We launch a digital reduced version of our work in late September. These are stop-gap measures designed to remain in touch with our audience and community.
As we see students of all ages returning to the classroom, we are reaching the point of no return. I am really not sure how long we can survive and be there for Nova Scotians when this is over.
I look forward to hearing from you. We are more than willing to meet, discuss or provide you with more facts and figures.
Sincerely
Jeremy Webb
Artistic Director
Neptune Theatre, Halifax
The Honourable Leo Glavine, Minister
Communities, Culture and Heritage
1741 Brunswick St.,3rd Floor P.O. Box 456,
STN Central Halifax, NS B3J 2R5
September 29, 2020
Dear Minister Glavine,
On behalf of the undersigned companies in Nova Scotia, I am writing to urge you to take immediate and significant action that will help to stabilize the financial situation that faces these professional theatre companies.
By now you have received many individual leers from organizations outlining their specific challenges:
“…we are managing to engage in creative endeavours thanks to the support of the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy, Canadian Emergency Business Account, and Canada Council for the Arts COVID-19 Emergency Fund. But with the end of CEWS in sight, and no prospects for further emergency funding, we are greatly concerned for our company’s future.”
– Danny Everson, Executive Director, Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
“Without a clear and timely commitment for emergency support from the Province, our company – and indeed theatre as an art form for the community of Antigonish – is in grave danger of never recovering.”
– Andrea Boyd and Reema Fuller – Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre
“Ticket revenue from severely reduced-capacity audiences cannot economically sustain the number of employees needed to produce a professional theatre production. Increased venue cleaning, installation of protective barriers and signage, and PPE costs for employees and patrons are additional financial burdens these companies cannot afford to bear.”
– Nancy Morgan, Theatre Nova Scotia
“Without extraordinary support from the provincial government, we are in real danger of witnessing generational damage to the ecology of arts and culture institutions and the freelance artists that work with them.”
– Jeremy Webb, Neptune Theatre.
Through all these communications with your department, there are common themes which must be addressed:
1. Unrestricted Funds- Additional operating support for companies – While new Covid-related project funding related to Covid-19 is welcome and beneficial (such as additional support for digital involves) these efforts alone will not stabilize our situation, nor will such programs give broad support to all companies that urgently need it. The eradication of earned revenues in this period means that our organizations require an infusion of operating funding which is not restricted to new and additional initiatives.
2. Timing – This support is needed now. For many of our organizations, our me of greatest need is ahead of us, not behind us. Additional operating funding, from an administrative perspective, is the simplest form of support your department can implement. Please consider it a top priority to move on this support without delay.
This period is, without question, challenging for virtually every citizen in Nova Scotia. Our organizations, as you know, are paying, and will continue to pay, one of the highest prices for
ensuring our collective safety and well-being in this province. In order to ensure that we survive the coming year, we urgently require your attention in this matter.
“To ensure Nova Scotia’s theatre organizations remain strong, vibrant cultural centres, provincial financial assistance is vital to sustain them. On behalf of the theatre employees, contractors, volunteers, audiences and communities across Nova Scotia that are dependent upon the continued success of our cultural organizations, I urge you to do more now.”
– Nancy Morgan, Theatre Nova Scotia
I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Ken Schwartz
Artistic Director
Two Planks and a Passion Theatre
artisticdirectors@twoplanks.ca
Chris O’Neill
Executive Director
Ross Creek Centre for the Arts
chris@artscentre.ca
Also signed by:
Jeremy Webb (Artistic Director, Neptune Theatre)
Nancy Morgan (Executive Director, Theatre Nova Scotia)
Laura Caswell (Director of Education, Neptune Theatre)
Christian Barry (Artistic Director, 2b Theatre Company)
Emmy Alcorn (Artistic Director, Mulgrave Road Theatre)
Kat McCormack (she/her) (Artistic Director, Eastern Front Theatre)
Danny Everson (Executive Director, Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia)
Andrea Boyd (Artistic Director, Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre)
Alex McLean (Co-Artistic Director, Zuppa Theatre Co.)