SteinbachOnline.com: SAC asks city for ongoing $85,000 grant, looks toward new performance space

This post was originally published by SteinbachOnline.com:
https://steinbachonline.com/articles/sac-asks-city-for-ongoing-85000-grant-looks-toward-new-performance-space

SAC’s David Klassen and Taylor Brandt presenting at a recent SPC meeting.

The Steinbach Arts Council is highlighting its partnership with the City of Steinbach while looking toward future growth and advocating for a new performance space.

SAC Executive Director David Klassen and Board Chair Taylor Brandt made a presentation at a recent Strategic Priorities Committee meeting, with several board members also in attendance.

City partnership supports growth

Klassen says the city’s operating investment provides an important foundation for SAC, allowing the organization to pursue grants, develop sponsors and donors, build partnerships, and generate earned revenue.

"If we look at our last several years of audited financial statements side by side, they tell a very consistent story. Our organization has grown significantly while continuing to work toward balanced annual results and responsible financial management. It’s important to point out that revenue growth has happened alongside significant growth in the services we’re delivering."

Brandt says the organization is also seeing the results of that work through increased provincial operating support, while federal funding continues to be an important and stable part of its funding mix.

"There is a multiplier effect at work. The city invests in SAC, that gives us organizational capacity. We use that capacity to build a more diverse and resilient funding model, and we in turn, use those combined resources into community services."

That financial support helps SAC provide high-quality, affordable programming, with approximately 41 per cent of programming costs subsidized for users.

Survey highlights community demand

As the organization looks toward future growth, Brandt says SAC wanted to find out whether the community sees the same value and opportunity in its programming.

This spring, as part of a Manitoba Arts Council grant, SAC completed a public survey that received 480 responses.

According to Brandt, 92.5 per cent of respondents said access to a performing arts venue was important, while 88.5 per cent said they would likely use one.

For arts education and studio space, 93 per cent said it was important, and 86.6 per cent said they would likely use it.

"When we asked what people actually wanted to do, their priorities aligned remarkably closely with what the SAC has already been doing. That confirmation is important because our programming growth has now reached the practical capacity of our building."

Klassen says the space limitations extend beyond SAC’s own facility. The SRSS theatre and community churches have helped accommodate performances, but those spaces are also becoming increasingly busy.

"That matters because appropriate performance space affects the artists we can present, the audiences we can attract, and ultimately, the financial sustainability of something like our concert programming. So, for us, the survey wasn’t really about discovering a new direction. It confirmed the direction our community has already been taking us."

The survey also highlighted demand for arts and culture programming beyond Steinbach.

Brandt says just over 54 per cent of respondents were from Steinbach, while almost 46 per cent came from surrounding communities.

"The RM of Hanover alone represented almost a quarter. For us, that reinforces something we’ve been seeing for years. Steinbach has become a regional hub for arts and culture activity. People come into Steinbach for arts and culture experiences just as they come here for education, recreation, and other services."

SAC requests ongoing funding increase

Mayor Earl Funk says he appreciates the partnership between the city and SAC, noting the organization provides many valuable programs.

He says the city has provided SAC with a grant for as long as he has been on council, explaining that it is a dual-purpose grant.

"Some of the grant is theirs to keep, some is to report back to the province because they’re in our facility. But I just feel we work so well hand in hand with them, and they’re just a great organization to have in our community, offering wonderful programs for our residents."

Last year, SAC requested an increase to the operating portion of its Strategic Priorities grant, from $55,000 to $85,000. Council approved the increase for one year.

The organization is now asking for the $85,000 to become its ongoing level of municipal support, citing inflation since previous funding levels, along with significant growth in its operations, participation, and community impact.

Funk says the city receives many requests for funding and grants, which are reviewed during the summer study session before being finalized in the fall study session.

He explains that SAC’s request will be discussed, with an answer expected in November following the fall study session.

New performance theatre discussed

With SAC continuing to grow and space becoming an increasing challenge, the possibility of a new performance theatre was also discussed.

Funk says it would be great to see the project get started, recommending that a community or working group take the lead in developing a plan and budget.

"I would say that’s a really good model and it worked out really well for the Event Centre and I could see it working well in this case too. So, the next steps would be go to the donors and have the donor group or a user groups drive the project."

Overall, the SAC says they remain grateful for the strong relationship with the City of Steinbach, and for their shared commitment to quality of life, community connection, and a strong and growing Steinbach.

Photo: SteinbachOnline.com