A Canada-wide search has been launched for a suitable candidate to run the new Performing Arts Centre (PAC) in Camrose. A committed team has already begun to review the applications – coming in from as far as Nova Scotia and as close as Camrose – with the intention to interview finalists by mid-June. The new Theatre Manager will start in September and immediately begin preparations for programming in 2014.

“We’re taking this search very seriously,” says Mayor Marshall Chalmers, who along with Augustana Dean Dr. Allen Berger represents the new facility’s Management Council on the search committee. “The Manager for the new Performing Arts Centre has to be a leader who can promote events, forge partnerships with arts and community groups in the city, plus manage a budget and staff.”

The position advertisement has run on websites such as Theatre Alberta, the Cultural Careers Council in Ontario, and the Alliance for Arts and Culture in Vancouver. “In addition to interviewing with the search committee, finalists will meet with members of the Camrose arts community,” says Dean Berger. “Their input on the new Theatre Manager will help ensure we make a good decision.”

Besides the two members from the Management Council, the search committee includes representation from the City of Camrose, the University of Alberta’s Augustana Campus, and the arts community.

The president of the Bailey Theatre Society, Judy McLean, jumped at the opportunity to help select the right person. Her involvement guarantees – right from the start – the importance of a strong collaborative relationship between PAC and the Bailey. “As we continue to grow arts and culture in Camrose,” says Ms. McLean, “I see a synergy between the historical Bailey Theatre, the Performing Arts Centre, local arts organizations, and Augustana’s music, drama, and visual art programs as key to building a vibrant and exciting cultural scene.”

Other members of the search committee include Camrose Director of Community Services Paul Neilsen and Augustana Director of Development Bonnie Anderson. Nielsen indicated that he is seeking the best person to integrate into the cultural community as a whole. Anderson – a musician, former music educator and arts administrator – will help ensure that the committee hires someone who will successfully promote the venue and raise funds for programming and operations.

The final member of the search committee is the professional theatre consultant who has been part of the project from the beginning. “A Theatre Manager represents the Performing Arts Centre to the public, the media and the performing arts industry at large,” says Richard Schick of Schick Shiner and Associates. Schick seeks a candidate who promises to establish effective working relationships with municipal and university officials, the media, artists, board members, other arts groups, sponsors, local schools, volunteers, and patrons.

“We’re doing this search right,” says Mayor Chalmers. “Our expectations are high, so we’ve spread the widest possible net. I believe we are going to meet some quality applicants from across Canada who will have the vision we seek for the Performing Arts Centre as it begins to serve our community.”

Check out this time-lapse video as structural girders are placed for Camrose’s newest — and tallest — building!

Performing Arts Centre starting to take shape

Dan Jensen, Camrose Booster
Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

The new performing arts centre is beginning to take shape.

Crane operators and construction workers from Clark Builders have been giving Camrose audiences a show for the last two weeks as they lift into place the steel girders for the building’s 80-foot fly tower.

“The fly tower is where all the rigging is,” said project manager Michael Madsen. “It’s called the fly tower because it is from there that they fly the sets, the draperies and all the other aerial things that they do in a theatre.”

The steel frames were pre-fabricated in Nisku before being transported into Camrose.

“Having them pre-fabricated saved about a week on the schedule, versus bringing them out and stick building them,” said Madsen.

The fly tower is the most distinguishing part of the arts centre, along with the curved concrete section nearest to the Augustana Faith and Life Centre.

“That is the back of the audience chamber,” said Madsen. “The seats on the other side slope down towards the stage opening.”

The performing arts centre’s front entrance will be covered by a combination of stage and brick.

“The shape is curved to complement the look of the curve of the library and forum building,” said Madsen. “The building opens out to the quad area, which is the specific design that was put in by the project architect.”

The performing arts centre is scheduled for substantial completion by the end of next January.

“We’re expecting the steel framing will be done by the end of July, and that by September or October it will be buttoned up and ready for the interior work,” said Madsen.

The final stage will be the actual fit up, which includes the installation of the draperies, sound system, audio visual and other theatrical parts.

The performing arts centre will include a number of initiatives designed to save energy, including LED stage lights and photovoltaics (power cells) covering the fly tower, that will convert sunshine into electricity.

“We are just finalizing the pricing on that, so that will be going before the energy management committee at the university for funding,” said Madsen. “At the peak loads we expect to be able to generate extra power for the grid, resulting in a direct savings for the theatre.”

The Camrose performing arts centre will include a 550-seat performing arts venue, a multipurpose space, dressing rooms, and an orchestra pit. The facility will be available for use by community groups, visiting performers and students, and U of A students and faculty for academic purposes.

The project is being funded with $4.5 million from the municipal sustainability initiative, $4.5 from City of Camrose debenture, $4.25 million from City of Camrose front ending to be repaid through a fund-raising campaign, $1 million from Camrose County, $750,000 from the University of Alberta and $3.5 million from the Province of Alberta. University of Alberta’s in-kind contribution (parking, landscaping and land value) totals $4.3 million.

The Camrose Performing Arts Centre, located on the Augustana campus of the University of Alberta, is a new 38,000 sq. foot facility that is scheduled to open in the spring/summer of 2014. It is the product of a joint vision and collaborative endeavour involving the University, the City of Camrose, and Camrose County. The facility includes a main stage theatre with 550 seats on two sloped-floor levels, a stage area of 2,700 sq. feet, an orchestra pit, and a 70-foot fly tower. An additional multi-purpose space will accommodate recitals, dance classes, exhibits, receptions, etc. The lobby will include support for visual arts exhibits in addition to amenities for patrons. The building, designed by Barr Ryder, has advanced sustainability features, including energy efficient LED lighting throughout and an advanced photovoltaic installation on all four sides of the fly tower.

Reporting to a Board of Directors, the Theatre Manager is responsible for the overall management, operation and programming of the Performing Arts Centre. The Manager is also expected to provide leadership within the local/regional arts community and to promote, publicize, and communicate the philosophy, programs and activities of the PAC. (S)he will be charged with developing an effective economic operating model for the Centre, balanced between community-based and University arts groups, touring programs, and other community/corporate rentals and usage. The Manager is responsible for general operations; the planning and delivery of all programs; budget development, financial management and reporting; marketing and community relations; revenue generation, including rentals, fundraising and grant applications; oversight of relevant legal and safety matters; management of staff; and service as a resource and liaison to all active PAC Committees/Boards.

Camrose, which is situated amid some of the richest farmland in Alberta’s prairies, is a vibrant city of over 17,000 people located 100 km southeast of Edmonton and 70 km from Edmonton International Airport. The City serves a surrounding area with a population over 100,000. With more than 50 not-for-profit arts and cultural groups, plus music, drama, and visual art programs sponsored by the Augustana Campus of the University of Alberta, and opportunities to cooperate with the historic Bailey Theatre downtown, the Performing Arts Centre will become a hub for a thriving arts community.

The ideal candidate will have a suitable combination of education, training, and/or experience in the arts and theatre management with an emphasis on theatre management skills and experiences and technical background in performance staging. In addition, the following competencies/qualifications are required:

• Bachelor Degree in Arts, Business, Recreation or other related field OR progressively diverse and proven arts administration experience;
• Ability to listen effectively with community arts groups and organizations;
• Excellent skills in: verbal and written communication; grant and report writing; fundraising; meeting facilitation; committee and community liaison;
• Proficiency in computer use and sector-related software and programs;
• Knowledge of, and commitment to formal OH&S/safety training, First Aid/AED, WHMIS and general knowledge of safe workplace practices;
• Five to seven years progressive experience in arts marketing, programming and theatre management including production management, touring productions, venue reconfiguration, technical production, and revenue maximization;
• Proven experience working with a Board of Directors and volunteer groups;
• Experience in setting up “performing arts presenter series” with a proven record of success.

The Theatre Manager represents the Performing Arts Centre to the public, the media and the performing arts industry at large through leadership and participation in community activities. (S)he must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with municipal and university officials, the media, artists, board members, artist managers, other arts groups, sponsors, local schools, volunteers, and patrons.

Salary commensurate with experience; benefits package included. Interested candidates are invited to submit, preferably via pdf attachments to an e-mail, a letter of interest, résumé, and list of three references. The review of applications will begin June 1, 2013, and will continue until the position is filled.

All materials should be sent to:

Mary-Anne Falk
Executive Assistant to the Dean
University of Alberta, Augustana Campus
mfalk1@ualberta.ca
780-679-1130

Structure

Michael Madsen informed members of Council that as of April 1, construction of the main “curved” wall will begin.  He also mentioned that Clark Builders have provided an excellent quality of work while maintaining timelines. Substantial construction of the building will be completed by the end of January 2014.  To continue helping the community, Clark Builders are making an effort to get all supplies from the Camrose area.

Originally, the projected number of seats was going to be around 500.  However, there will now be seating with 540 fixed and 40 non-fixed seats and plenty of legroom.

The steel structure will be going up in May and June of 2013 so make sure to keep an eye on the skies!

Fundraising

As for the fundraising side of PAC, Bonnie Anderson told Council that the University of Alberta has taken the lead on this fund-raising project by resourcing the campaign with the Development office at Augustana and supplemented by the Advancement Office on North Campus in Edmonton. The Edmonton offices are primarily providing research support for the project.

Also resourcing the campaign is the PAC community volunteer group “the Community Committee” headed by Jason Heise, supported by the U of A Development Office as well as Jane Cherry Arts Director from the City.

The fundraising campaign for CPAC is well under way, with gifts and pledges totaling approximately $1.35 million.  Other anticipated gifts totaling approximately $.5 million have been identified.

The Community Committee is getting ready to launch a seat campaign which will raise approximately $700,000.  PAC has just obtained seat “samples” which will be placed at strategic locations throughout the City over the next several months where “future audience members” can experience the comfort (and leg-room!) of the theatre.

This spring, the Community Committee will embark upon a mail campaign to the various alumni cohorts of Camrose Lutheran College, Augustana University College and University of Alberta alumni in the area, to speak to the advantages this facility brings to the region, the City and University.

The various sustainable features of the building are motivating a lot of interest as we chat with prospective donors. They are interested in the fact that we are building a facility for the future and these features will impact the day-to-day operations of this arts facility.

In recognition of the $500,000 gift from the Mayer family the multi-purpose room adjacent to the theatre will be named, The Mayer Family Community Hall. PAC believes it to be an appropriate acknowledgement of the future day to day access and usage proposed for this room as well as a fitting recognition of the Mayer family’s long standing generosity and commitment to this community.

The north and south lobby or gallery spaces in the building have also been designated as naming opportunities. Greg Christenson of Christenson Developments will receive recognition for his $350,000 pledge to the project, with the naming of the north lobby as the Christenson-Nelson Gallery.

Overall success in the campaign will require an additional $1M in major gifts and a naming gift of $1.5M.  The Performing Arts Centre has a challenging $5 million goal.  However, given previous discussions and meetings, PAC feels very optimistic about achieving this goal.

The Performing Arts Centre is a 38,000 ft2 theatre complex with 550 seats on two sloped-floor levels. The entire stage area is 2,700ft2, and the backstage area is serviced by a 70’ fly tower.

The Lobby will include support for visual arts exhibits, areas for performers and patrons, as well as a hall for community use.
This project is a joint vision held by the Government of Alberta, the City of Camrose, Camrose County and the University of Alberta.

Camrose Municipal Sustainability Initiative:   $4.5M
City of Camrose debenture:                                  $4M
City of Camrose front-end funding:                    $4.25M
(to be repaid through fundraising campaign)
Camrose County contribution:                            $1M
University of Alberta contribution:                    $.75M
University of Alberta in-kind contribution:     $4.3M
(includes parking, landscaping and land value)
Province of Alberta contribution:                      $3.5M

Total:                                                                   $22.3M

We need your help to make our vision a reality. The Camrose Performing Arts Centre partnership is seeking $5M to contribute to capital costs and establish a programming endowment. A gift to this project will help ensure that arts and culture remain a critical part of this vibrant rural community for many years to come.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Tamsin or Bree at 780-679-1558 or by email at info@camroseperformingarts.ca 

Visit often for CPAC updates!