Save New Westminster's Massey Theatre: Dale Miller

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Sunday, October 11, 2009

Several city heritage sites with uncertain future

by Archie and Dale Miller.
Click on the title to read the article.

EXCERPT:

It is a challenging time for the city with many difficult decisions to be made because all of these have some degree of heritage links and historical connection of merit.

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WHAT'S GOING ON???

Concerned parents and community members share the belief that the Massey Theatre is a valuable asset to New Westminster. Lack of public consultation will only further delay the urgently needed construction of a new high school. The landmark Massey Theatre is a fundamental piece of our community and has been an inspiration and home to generations of artists, students and community members for 60 years, contributing $2 million a year to local economy - a real success story.

No functioning theatre has been intentionally demolished in Canadian History!*

(except the Capitol Theatre in Halifax, we recently learned.)

WHAT’S GOING ON:

A site for the rebuild of the high school must be selected which avoids land designated by cemetery.

The School District has somehow concluded that the location occupied by Massey Theatre is the simplest option.

The City and School District could swap land to facilitate both the preservation of Massey Theatre and the construction of a new high school while leveraging funds for new athletic facilities. No formal agreement has yet been made.

WHAT WE BELIEVE:

It is crucial to preserve Massey Theatre, upgrade athletic facilities and see the plan for a new high school completed. There has not been enough done to develop an overall plan for the site. We expect decision makers to search for options which don’t result in the permanent loss of unique community assets.

WHAT’S BEING SAID:

An engineer’s report has been distributed which outlines an $18.2 million cost to bring Massey Theatre to state-of-the-art condition (solar panels, elevator, new seats, seismic upgrades).

A risk analysis report has also been distributed revealing much lower investment is required, certainly in the short term.

Elected leaders are suggesting that much smaller performance spaces are an effective replacement for Massey Theatre.

WHAT WE BELIEVE:

The engineer’s report is a wish list of improvements that include many which are not necessary for the theatre to remain operational. The cost of seismic upgrades and renovations is inflated due to the engineer’s plans to tear exterior rooms which are valuable to the building’s operation (band rooms, classrooms, small gym, drama studios) from the building. The necessary work can be done when the funds are in place to do so. The building is safe. A generic flexible performing space is in no way equivalent to this unique, warm, purpose-built theatre, not to mention the loss of seating capacity.

WE ASK: Where will the students of New Westminster find opportunities for personal growth through performance? How will New Westminster’s wonderful arts groups thrive in smaller facilities for which there is no guarantee they will ever be built and no room to grow? Do our leaders place no value in our large community’s need to gather, share cultural experiences and celebrate our talented performers together?

We are calling on leaders from all levels of government to participate in a diligent, thoughtful and open process to determine responsible plans for the site containing NWSS, Massey Theatre, Mercer Stadium and Moody Park Arena and to do it urgently.

Please download the 1-page flyer to print and circulate!

Take Action

ATTEND A SCHOOL BOARD or CITY HALL MEETING

NWCity Council - TBA
NWSchool Board meeting - TBA

WRITE TO POLITICIANS
You can write to any one or all of the following. (Please note that a handwritten letter is also still highly effective.)

CITY GOVERNMENT
New West Mayor and council at postmaster@newwestcity.ca

SCHOOL TRUSTEES
• School District Chair James Janzen janzen01@telus.net
• the trustee in charge of the High School Jim Goring jgoring@sd40.bc.ca
• Casey Cook casey@caseycook.ca;
• Michael Ewen mewen@shaw.ca;
• Lisa Graham lisa_graham@shaw.ca;
• Lori Watt loriwatt@shaw.ca

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
• MLA Dawn Black Dawn.Black.MLA@leg.bc.ca
• Minister of Education Margaret McDiarmid - margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca
250 387-3200

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
• MP Peter Julian - juliap@parl.gc.ca and juliap1@parl.gc.ca
• Minister of Canadian Heritage - James Moore - moorej1a@parl.gc.ca or moorej@parl.gc.ca

CC your message to all of the above and to the Massey Theatre itself, to Executive Director Jessica Scheider jessica@masseytheatre.com.

Let them know that the community affected needs to be consulted on this important issue and that creative solutions need to be found.

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The City's report says…

Massey is one of only two theatres of its size in Metro Vancouver. It is vital to large scale producers like the Royal City Musical Theatre, Royal City Youth Ballet and New Westminster Symphony and to regional producers and presenters due to its size and capabilities. It also serves a growing community of diverse cultural producers and audiences. It has capable professional management and stable, committed board governance. There is a strong community commitment to preserve, protect and reassert the Massey’s position as a premier regional theatre facility. The community looks to the City to provide leadership and stability for what is regarded as a civic asset.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The City of New Westminster to take the initiative and proactively negotiate community ownership or trusteeship of Massey Theatre and adjacent facilities if they become available.

2. Capital funds will be invested to address the functional and cosmetic needs of the facility. In excess of one million dollars in Provincial Infrastructure funding was granted to create civic arts related facilities at 8th Street and 8th Avenue. The funds are site specific. It may be appropriate to use this funding for Massey allowing additional funds to be leveraged from senior levels of government. This would enable improvements more quickly.

3. Access to the theatre is a challenge for many users who require a lower rental cost to support their endeavours. Programming for local audiences is also a challenge. Increased operating funds should be provided to build and sustain professional programming, market the venue to local and regional audiences and allow greater access to the facility.

4. The Massey Theatre should be designated as the Civic Theatre of New Westminster and the City should become a strong partner, on behalf of its citizens, in this community asset.”

Words of wisdon

"I am told that New Westminster has produced more artists than any city in Canada! The list of those artists is long, an holds distinguished people who have been part of our thriving Arts Community---all nurtured by an amazing home base---The Massey Theatre." – Dolores Kirkwood, Ballet & Musical Theatre teacher
"What is happening in this town is a cultural holocaust. It's bad enough they are cutting away 90% per cent of the funding. Yesterday I saw that they were trying to eliminate all our local authors. Now today I find them trying to eliminate our place of worship. So they have stolen our food and now they are throwing us out into the streets." – Actor Jay Brazeau
"It's a facility that has a long and proud tradition in New Westminster but meets the needs of more than just our city. It fills the needs for the whole region," – Dawn Black, MLA, New Westminster

Massey is good for the economy & good investment

· Massey Theatre and its key New Westminster resident arts groups generate combined revenues of over two million dollars per year which are infused directly into the local and regional economies.

· Most Western governments are recognizing the importance of investing in the arts and cultural sector as a significant element of economic stimulus strategies. The arts and cultural sector provides many of the skills and professional training to serve the needs of the creative industries. Investing in the arts and culture is investing in our future.

· The City of Vancouver recently completed a study concluding that for every dollar the municipality invests in arts and culture almost twelve dollars is generated in economic activity.

Save New Westminster's Massey Theatre

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Several city heritage sites with uncertain future

Share

About the Massey Theatre

Concerned Citizens

WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW

Niki Hope's blog

WHAT'S GOING ON???

Video from School Board meetings

Take Action

Followers

Janet Wright (actor, director, star of Corner Gas) says:

Search This Blog

Find out more

City of New Westinster: making the wrong kind of history

Resources

The City's report says…

Words of wisdon

Massey is good for the economy & good investment

Blog Archive

Contributors

Related Blogs

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Save New Westminster's Massey Theatre

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Several city heritage sites with uncertain future

Share

About the Massey Theatre

Concerned Citizens

WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW

Niki Hope's blog

WHAT'S GOING ON???

Video from School Board meetings

Take Action

Followers

Janet Wright (actor, director, star of Corner Gas) says:

Subscribe To Save the Massey

Search This Blog

Find out more

City of New Westinster: making the wrong kind of history

Resources

The City's report says…

Words of wisdon

Massey is good for the economy & good investment

Blog Archive

Contributors

Related Blogs

THIS BLOG SPONSORED BY

CONTACT INFO