By David F. Rooney
The future is looking pretty bright to the Revelstoke Arts Council.
Members who attended the RAC’s annual general meeting on Wednesday heard how the opening of the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre has injected new vigour into the organization.
“Our past year has been an exciting and successful one,” Chairwoman Carol Palladino told the members who attended the AGM at the Powder Springs Inn. “I believe we have done a great job of getting the new Performing Arts Centre up and running in a professional manner — thanks to Miriam Manley, our theatre manager and also to School District 19 for trusting us with the task. As we move into the future our goal is to create the best business model for the centre’s ongoing operation.”
The impact of the centre’s opening last autumn is revealed in the RAC’s financial statement. Its assets in terms of cash and accrued receivables as of March 31, 2013, came to $47,313 — up from $16,545 at this same time in 2012. Revenues, as of March 31, came to $175,437 versus $132,594 last year. Expenses last year amounted to $162,921 as of March 31 this year against $139,855 in 2012.
Executive Director Garry Pendergast said the biggest increase in arts council activity is a direct result of the centre’s opening.
“The increased audience numbers have meant that we are able to increase the number and quality of acts we bring to Revelstoke, knowing that we will see some income to offset the costs,” he said. “Our planning for this year will show that.”
Other RAC initiatives such as the pre-Christmas Handmade Parade, the winter Spirit Fest and the summer Streetfest have continued to be very popular and, as a result, very successful programs.
There was a one sad development this past year. That was the closure of Talisman Fibre and Trading Co., which was a popular place to purchase tickets. Tickets can now be bought at the ArtFirst gallery on First Street West. Alternatively tickets can be acquired online at the Revelstoke Arts Council website.
Members also pumped some badly needed new blood into the RAC board of directors. Angie McLeod, Wes Woodward, Janet Pearson and Martin Ralph replace Carmen Segger, Erin Johnson, Neills Christensen and John Devitt, who all left the board and/or Revelstoke over the past 12 months. They join Tina Lindegaard, Margaret Pacaud, Emily Beaumont, Carol Palladino, Emma Kirkland, Meghan Hutton and Amy Flexman on the board.
