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DTCS: Public Meetings Information Update
First DTCS Public Meeting 02/02/12 - Nelson Public Library
The meeting was co-facilitated by Monica Carpendale & Lyn Cayo
Our Visions/Dreams/Needs
The meeting was well attended with a lot of new members. In general, there was a lot of enthusiasm
expressed for the opportunity to really do something in the arts community.The board members
each briefly expressed their position vis a vis the use of the substantial DTCS working capital.
Then options, ideas and suggestions were expressed by all others present. The emphasis was upon
creating a vision for the future of DTCS and there was no debate about any of the ideas or positions
expressed.
In general, there was a great deal of enthusiasm for the creation of a multi-use facility in Nelson.
There were a number of concerns expressed and some interest was also expressed regarding the use
of DTCS funds for the creation of scholarships. There was also an expressed concern that the options
presented should not be too narrowly defined and that we don't need to get into an either/or position.
Ideas regarding the creation of a multi-use facility:
A facility and cultural programming would give a public face to the society.
It would provide a focus and a space for arts & education.
It could be coordinating and inclusive.
It could provide a focus for networking with existing organizations.
It would be a place for this generation to leave for future artists.
a space would allow fringe productions to appeal to a more "general public".
It could provide a space and a focus for underground youth culture.
It could unify - as in student 'union' where the assets came from.
It could provide a place and aid in the movement and flow of ideas.
With such a unifying focus, resources could be shared.
The arts community could benefit from inspirational overlaps.
A cultural centre could facilitate the mentoring of upcoming artists etc.
Open to all arts and the public, accessible.
Place for collaboration of many disciplines.
A Multi-Use Space & Business ideas.
DTCS could be "A Chamber of Arts" (like a Chamber of Commerce).
The Arts community is large % of pop -- potential for local economic benefit.
We need to grow membership & have volunteers.
A multi-use facility should be financially independent.
It should not be dependent on government funding.
We need to put $$$ to work for 'us' - the Nelson arts community.
We have alumni who are now business planners.
We could attract tourists & their dollars.
It could be an Artist run center.
It would be a place for musicians to play for cash.
DTCS could make Investments in order to fund or partially fund a facility.
DTCS could provide rental space in a facility for congenial partners - i.e.
Co-op Radio, Kootenayenay Film & Video Co-op, KSA writing school,
KATI school and/or Open Studio space studio, NUC.
DTCS could buy the Queen's Hotel & run it as a cultural centre.
A number of caveats were expressed re the creation of a multi-use facility:
We need to engage in a cautious, slow, deliberate process.
We need to have a good business plan.
We need sustainable involvement from membership.
The assets (money) need to benefit the most possible people.
Need to access marketing knowledge, administrative ability & promotion skills.
Scholarships.
Scholarships could be created through Selkirk Foundation for Selkirk College music students,
for NUC students, or ?? DTCS could give a portion of $$$ to existing facilities.
NEXT MEETING: Given the level of enthusiasm for a multi-use space, we should probably focus
on the financial feasibility of such a space. We need to begin to research available real estate.
We need to start to develop a business plan. We should explore partnerships and start to prioritize
long and short range goals. Who would rent space? How could the space be run as a business so that
performance, studio space, meetings places, etc. could be offered to the arts & educational community
for nothing or a very minimal rate? We also need to look at short and long range goals re: scholarships . . .
and/or any other sort of support for the arts, cultural and educational activity. We certainly need to go
into the next meeting with an accurate accounting of DTCS working capital.
Second Public Information Meeting 03/26/02
The Meeting was facilitated by Monica Carpendale
The meeting was small compared to the first information meeting but we had a lively discussion concerning exactly what sort of facility people envisioned. The discussion centered around the possibility of establishing a large facility or a small facility. Uses for each of these were discussed. These uses can in be grouped under the headings of:
a) The kinds of services that the centre could offer to it’s members & the community
b) Ideas for businesses or partnerships that would help sustain the facility.
The third option of a leased space was not discussed. (This option would involve the investment of the major portion of the DTCS building fund in order to grow the money & the leasing of a space which could be maintained without diminishing the building fund.)
Naturally many of the ideas about what could happen in the space could fall under both of the above headings. For instance, an art gallery would provide a service to the community but also in the long run it could generate money. In the short run, however, an art gallery cannot be considered as a primary business used to sustain the facility.
In all cases it was generally agreed that an individual business plan would need to be developed for each building (whether large or small) considered for the home of DTCS. The attempt in the discussion was to strike a balance between a vision of what we could do & the financial feasibility of proposals.
1) Large Facility
Suggested buildings: Legion, Christian Science Church, Queens Hotel, Helliman Sports, Peterson’s, KWC Block, CPR building, the Bowling alley, highway building opposite swimming pool, forestry building.
2) Small Facility or Clubhouse.
There were no specific suggestions of buildings . . .
A smaller facility could be maintained by higher membership fees. If DTCS did purchase a smaller building or a house, it would have to be properly zoned and not too close to private residences.
General Considerations
The constitution of DTCS is extremely general. This means the society can be flexible in its aims & the directions it may wish to take. We need to keep ourselves open -- Lets not have limited vision. The spaces should be adaptable, could have moveable walls etc. Building should be wheelchair accessible, low overhead.
We definitely need a facility for use as a Headquarters, gathering place, for performances – a place with sound equipment & fairly close to downtown.
We should have a salaried administrator & a bookkeeper once the facility is established.
We should use volunteers at all stages of the process – renovations, etc.
We need to take care about what building we buy, obtain structural reports etc.
We have a Profile Committee working on developing a pamphlet & package for businesses. One use for these would be for soliciting materials from local businesses to help put a centre together.
Promotional Language: a sensitivity to community needs.
We could perhaps be part of new mixed use building at VSA (& business partnership could lower overhead.) But the general feeling was that it would be better to buy an older building as opposed to building new.
Membership could involve a monthly payment & meets monthly costs.
We could have short term tourist memberships.
DTCS could be an Arts Marketing Agent.
(We could perhaps apply for money for a pilot project from Columbia Basin Trust with the idea that after a year, the project would be self-sustaining).
Different kinds of performances that appeal to a wide sector of the community, string quartets, dinner theatre etc.
DTCS could form affiliations with other businesses in order to facilitate activities at a DTCS centre. For instance an affiliation with Dancing Bear Inn could be worked out for accommodations for visiting performers.
Concern: fractured artistic community. DTCS could provide a unifying function.
Employ special needs people or people with disabilities or youth at risk, etc.
Knack is interested in using some space & being affiliated with DTCS in some way as yet unspecified. Whether this arrangement would be financial or be provided as a service is unclear.
Below, I’ve made a general list of the kinds of uses suggested for a DTCS facility that would provide a service to its members & the community. Following this list of “services” there is an outline of suggested ideas about how these services could be provided – how they would be paid for.
Service to Community
Multimedia space for performances, video production work, post-production etc.
Provision of computer(s), etc.
Performance Space provided for little or no cost to performers
Provision of Rehearsal space
Provide manuscript & painting archiving
Create an Art gallery space. We would probably need to have paid personnel.
Publish a newsletter/magazine.
Canada Council Reading Series.
Provide a space for lectures, meetings, political discussion, ecology workshops etc.
Create a space open to a wide spectrum of the community including youth & seniors.
Mentorships, Artists in Residence.
symposium / sculpture garden.
Shared art equipment (e.g. shared kiln).
Above we have a number of ideas for the uses of a cultural facility that would provide a service to the community. However, DTCS would need a clear sustainable income, in order to provide such service to its members & the community.
To be pragmatic, we could look at each idea which is a service – estimate its cost & then estimate how that money would be generated. For example, if we wished to provide 400 square feet for a gallery space, we could estimate the cost of this & see how we could pay for this service. It is very clear at this point that it is not desirable to pay for such services by charging the artists or users directly. It is generally agreed that other business endeavors should pay for performance space etc. On the other hand, a gallery space could also function as a performance space & be maintained in the context of that.
Business ideas & potential income
1) Rental of Space to other parties, whether groups or individuals.
Student Rentals. Art Studios could be rented. The rates would be nominal & could be partially paid for by original art work. The future sale of said art works could provide some income in the future but . . . could not be counted on.
Rental of Space to groups.
a) KSA writing program (sometime in the future) Some space might be rented outright or shared.
b) KATI would like to rent space from the society if the building were appropriate and there was adequate space.
c) NUC might rent some space (but at this time they don’t have funds).
d) WKBAS (West Kootenay Boundary Addictions Society) is looking for an appropriate space for an open art studio.
e) Rental of band rehearsal space.
2) Licensed club (with a kitchen)
Performances & Liquor sales (we need an estimate of how much liquor sales income could be generated per evening or performance, given attendance.)
3) Door charges for performances (This would probably only generate income for DTCS in some cases. It has been suggested that local performers should get the door & DTCS get the liquor sales.)
4) Mini-storage, post office boxes.
5) Larger cultural productions. Bringing in performers from out of town. This tends to be fairly risky.
6) Membership fees. At present the fee is $10.00 but this could change. For instance, a small facility that could be more or less purchased outright could be sustained by membership fees.
7) Benefits etc. (either on premises or in some venue in town.)
8) Art Marketing Business (Gallery, craft-store, tourist art) etc.
9) DTCS could sponsor different projects (e.g. an HRDC project.)
10) DTCS could sponsor conferences, symposiums.
11) Publishing house. This perhaps could generate income in the future.
13) Grants (It is generally agreed that DTCS should establish a facility that can stand on it’s own & is not dependent upon grants. Grants for development or for different specific projects would be fine.)
14) Investment Portfolio. DTCS could invest part of its current funds.
15) Partner with a restaurant or some other business in a large enough space.
16) Wholesale art materials.
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