COVID-19 has forced many businesses to take a good hard look look at their future, including the Regent Theatre.
Theatre Manager Alexandra Seay addressed council on Tuesday night during a virtual council meeting seeking a $40,000 community grant.
Seay told council they had applied to the County Foundation as part of the County Community Grant program and were approved but denied the funding by council.
She told council the funding will allow the theatre to provide a hybrid programming model; meaning they can show live events to a limited audience, live stream the show to a satellite location (for example: Mustang Drive-In) and live stream to people’s homes.
The idea was well received by council and a motion asking for a staff report was approved.
CAO Marcia Wallace told councillors staff will be presenting a report at the next council meeting on June 23 that includes unspent funds from the community fund program and they will add the Regent Theatre to the list of items to consider.
Seay told council the theatre needs to shift their way of doing things for a very important reason.
The biggest portion of the $40,000 ask was for equipment, with a quote showing it will cost over $18,000 to get all the equipment necessary to put the hybrid programming in place.
Prince Edward County council on June 9, 2020.
Councillor Janice Maynard questioned what else made up the total cost behind the ask.
Seay said they would need to hire a digital media coordinator for the programming. She noted 16 weeks is covered through the Canada Summer Jobs grant, but the rest of the year would be funded by the grant.
They would also need to do some marketing to get the word out on this new programming available and show-specific advertising as well as personal protective equipment for the staff that will need to be on hand for live events.
Last year, the Regent Theatre brought 32,000 people to the County and almost 70% of those people were from outside Prince Edward County.
Seay estimates revenues are generated by visitors to the Regent and Picton because they shop and dine in local restaurants spending upwards of a million dollars.
Without the funding support and the hybrid programming model, the theatre would be operating with approximately 28% of their normal operating revenue.
She said the need for the funding is immediate and by investing in the hybrid programming model, it ensures the Regent stays vibrant and supports the County for the long-term.
Seay noted the specialized equipment could be made available to the community for local artists or schools.
Another option they are looking at is making their space available to rent and act as a community resource and activity hub.
