To foster, produce and promote excellent theatre that provokes examination of Canadian life and our place in the world.
What is Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC)?
Great Canadian Theatre Company is the only not-for-profit independent English-language arts organization producing professional theatre with its own facility and a subscription season in our city and servicing the national capital region.
GCTC has successfully produced professional contemporary theatre in Ottawa since 1975. Our mandate to produce theatre that examines “Canadian life and our place in the world” provides a different perspective and makes us unique in our city. With over 85 world premieres, GCTC has made a strong commitment to advancing Canadian theatre and the creation of Canadian plays. GCTC is one of the key theatre companies in Canada, presenting new and established work to over 25,000 theatre patrons annually. The company has a long history of creating theatre that is compassionate, thought provoking and immediately relevant. Our audience craves theatre that is emotionally charged, intellectually engaging and theatrically exciting. Our setting in the nation’s capital lends our work a socio-political urgency, and we see theatre as a means of civic engagement. We produce theatre that does not prescribe a point of view, but rather encourages audience members to engage in debate and discussion. We are the only company in Ottawa that is mandated to produce the stories that emerge from our national landscape.
The Great Canadian Theatre Company was founded by a group of professors and graduate students at Carleton University. Riding a wave of cultural nationalism, founders Robin Matthews, Larry McDonald, Bill Law, Greg Reid and Lois Shannon envisioned a theatre company that would produce only Canadian plays, especially those with social and political relevance. Driven by a dream to place Canadian stories and Canadian history front and centre in our country’s universities and theatres, the company launched its first production in August of 1975.
GCTC’s not-for-profit business model
GCTC’s legal name is Great Canadian Theatre Corporation and it is a federally incorporated not-for-profit corporation set up to deliver programs for the benefit of the public good. GCTC is also a registered charity (119235836 RR0001), which allows the company to issue tax receipts for donations. This is the operating model of 95% of arts organizations in Canada. In Ottawa we do not have any commercial for-profit arts companies; even the National Arts Centre is federally incorporated and has charity status. The best close to home example of a commercial for-profit theatre company is the entertainment company the Mirvish family owns in Toronto. As a not-for-profit, GCTC’s business operating model requires that it achieve its revenue from three streams: earned (sales: tickets, rentals, café and services such as coat check), private (individual and corporate donations, sponsorship and special events, foundations) and public (operating and project grants from three levels of government and foundations). For GCTC, like most not-for-profit professional theatre companies across Canada of its size, approximately one-third of its total revenue is achieved from each stream.
As a not-for-profit, GCTC is governed by a volunteer board of directors made up of community leaders from Ottawa. The fundamental role of a board member is to ensure the artistic excellence and economic viability of GCTC is protected and promoted. The staffing model is quite lean there are two senior managers who report directly to the Board and manage a group of 20 part and full time employees in departments such as marketing, facility, development and production, box office, arts education and community outreach. GCTC manages a volunteer core of 150 Ottawa residents. GCTC’s members are the subscribers and working members (individuals who have held an engagement contract with the company).
What is a not-for-profit corporation?
Three fundamental aspects of a not-for-profit corporation:
1. A not-for-profit corporation is composed of members, where as a for-profit corporation is owned by share holders.
2. The members of a not-for-profit corporation cannot receive any financial gain during the life of the corporation, whereas a for-profit may distribute profits to its shareholders in the form of dividends.
3. The powers of a not-for-profit corporation are limited to what is written into its objects (purposes) whereas; typically the for-profit corporation has no such limits.
NOTE: Taken from Industry Canada: Primer for Directors of Not-for-Profit Corporations
Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre and The Currents Condominium
The Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre, home of the Great Canadian Theatre Company and the Currents Condominium share a building space. The building developer, Windmill Development invited GCTC to be part of the condominium building. The Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre is set up as a commercial condominium and the Currents as a residential condominium. GCTC owns and operates the first few floors that the theatres are on and office on the 3rd floor. GCTC does not own the condo tower portion of the building or derive any revenue from that part of the building. There is a shared agreement between GCTC and the Currents in which GCTC pays its share for the commons areas, and maintenance and repairs of common equipment and mechanical systems (2% of budget). The $11.7 million is the cost to build our portion of the building and fit up the theatres and office. The parking lot below the building is for the condo residences. GCTC does not own the parking lot and paid for its four spaces ($100,000) and pays city taxes on those spaces.
Benefit to the Community
The Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre, which includes a 262-seat mainstage theatre, a flexible black box studio theatre, and two spacious lobbies, has allowed GCTC to expand its community-based activities. GCTC is a vital contributor to the quality of life in Ottawa, by consistently entertaining local audiences, providing employment for local residents (75 jobs), and delivering concrete economic impact to local businesses, while providing a venue for a wide range of cultural activities and professional development opportunities for Ottawa artists and organizations. More than 30,000 people visit the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre every year to see productions by GCTC and other live performing arts companies, for concerts such as the Acoustic Waves music series, to visit the Lorraine Fritzi Yale Art Gallery, enjoy our café and rent the facility. GCTC’s Education Program is committed to developing artistic learning opportunities for young people in Ottawa, to foster lifelong connections to the arts and their own community. The theatre company has also contributed to, and partnered with, local social cause-related organizations; has had a thirteen year partnership with our legal community to produce the annual lawyer play; and makes donations through our community giving program.
Why should the city support the arts at all?
If Ottawa is to compete economically on the world stage, it must attract the best possible talent from around the world. Renowned economist Richard Florida has argued persuasively that the best and brightest in the global labour force, the so-called Creative Class. They can choose anywhere in the world to live. They look for vibrant cities that have four qualities: good healthcare, excellent education, terrific environment, and a vibrant arts and culture sector. Ottawa has these qualities in spades, and GCTC is a major contributor to that arts and culture strength. It is a hub of creative activity involving theatre, music and visual art. It is one of the reasons people want to live here. Companies locate where the best and brightest want to live. An investment in an arts organization like GCTC helps Ottawa compete for talent globally. At the neighbourhood level, GCTC's economic impact can be seen in the burgeoning growth around Wellington West and Hintonburg where it is located. Three of Ottawa's major developers – Domicile, Trinity and Tartan – have contributed a combined $200,000 to our capital campaign because they value what GCTC adds to the city's economy.
Why is GCTC in debt?
The initial capital fundraising campaign, “Making It Greater” raised over $10 million, which reflected 92% of the $11.7 million budget for construction of the new theatre centre. GCTC raised the money from all three levels of government, as well as the sale of 910 Gladstone (GCTC’s former home) and individual donations and foundations, including $2.5 million from the Greenberg family, the largest donation to an Ottawa arts organization. GCTC did raise more money than was initially calculated in the professional feasibility study conducted before we embarked on the capital fundraising campaign.
The debt arose during the construction of our green-energy facilities between 2005 and 2007, when construction costs increased. That and the refining of the building program meant that the new theatre centre ended up costing $11.7 million instead of the original cost estimate of $9 million.
GCTC and the City of Ottawa
GCTC has been successfully operating its theatre company for over 38 years. GCTC has been a long time partner with the City of Ottawa delivering arts programming services to Ottawa residents in its own facility in a cost effective manner. The annual operating grant and capital investment made by the city to GCTC are lower than the costs to operate and build a city-owned cultural facility (Centrepointe Theatre, Shenkman Arts Centre and Arts Court).
GCTC, the City of Ottawa and the developer all worked together in a P3 style of partnership to build the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre. The theatre is a unique green building located in a vibrant core city neighbourhood with easy access for all Ottawa residents on major city bus routes and very close to the transit way. GCTC’s presence in a neighbourhood attracts people to live there and builds a solid tax base for the City.
We have been working with staff from the cultural services department and the mayor’s office since the winter of 2009 to secure support for an additional investment toward the capital costs of building the Irving Greenberg Centre. At that time, our discussions were led by Aaron Bury, former GM Parks Recreation & Cultural Services. Since the election of Mayor Watson we have been working with his office, city staff, our Councilor and the Chair of the Community and Protective Services Committee.
Historical support…
In 1981, when GCTC proposed to turn a former 18-wheel truck repair garage on Gladstone Street into a theatre, Mayor Marion Dewar, and fellow Councilor, Toddy Kehoe, were its biggest supporters. Together they worked with City Council to secured the funds for the City to grant 25% of the costs to purchase and renovate the truck repair building. The remaining funds came from Federal and Provincial grants and GCTC supporters. In addition, Council agreed to guarantee the mortgage. This significant vote of confidence freed the company from the mortgages and capital expenses that had drowned so many other theatrical visions in our city.
What was the City’s initial investment?
In 2004, during the initial stages of planning and early professional estimates on construction costs the City of Ottawa generously committed to investing $1.3 million into the new theatre centre, which represented 25% of the costs at that time. When all the costs were finally recognized the City’s contribution represented 11% of the costs.
What did you ask the City of Ottawa for on January 17?
Great Canadian Theatre Company is seeking your support for an investment of $250,000 towards the Taking Care of (Unfinished) Business capital campaign to eliminate its capital debt.
What will you do with the funds?
The $250,000 will be applied directly to the capital debt. The balance owing on the loan as of December 31, 2012 is $870,760.
What did GCTC ask the city for two years ago?
In 2010 we came before Council for short term budget relief from debt-servicing costs on a $1.6 million loan set up in 2007 for bridge financing of the capital campaign for the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre. That funding has been instrumental in supporting the company and given us the time we needed to refresh the capital campaign plan and start our third phase to raise funds.
What has GCTC been doing since it got that funding?
Successfully raising funds! We developed a new plan and case for support. We have raised $855,400 in cash and pledges in less than two years.
GCTC’s plan….
In our most recent fundraising efforts we are working with a fundraising consultant experienced in capital campaigns. In 2010, the Board of Directors approved a new plan and undertook a third version of its capital fundraising under the banner of “Taking Care of Business”.
This Campaign Plan expresses the ways and means of addressing the challenge of raising $1.6 million dollars in cash over the next three years to pay back the loan.
In the plan to eliminate the $1.6 million debt we are seeking the following capital gifts:
Leadership gift (1) $500,000
Major Gifts (9) $600,000
Community Gifts (50) $500,000
How is the Consultant paid for?
The fundraising consultant’s fee is sponsored by an anonymous donor.
Why should Council make this investment over other cause related investments?
We appreciate that there are many worthy and important causes and services the City receives requests for support from. This is our case for support. The City and community have made a significant investment and we are asking for your support at this time.
GCTC is a vital contributor to the quality of life in Ottawa and a hub for the local arts community. GCTC has consistently challenged and entertained local audiences (25,000) provided employment for local residents (75 jobs), and delivered concrete economic impact to local businesses, while providing a venue for a wide range of cultural activities. GCTC’s Education Program is committed to developing artistic learning opportunities for young people in Ottawa, to foster lifelong connections to the arts and their own community. The theatre company has supported the local arts community by hosting and mentoring emerging theatre and performing arts groups, and has also contributed to and partnered with local social causes through partnerships like the one with the legal community and our community giving program. Some of our donors call us "The Mother Ship" of the Ottawa theatre community.