The Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts released its 2020 financial statement at North Battleford council Monday.
The picture presented was what you would expect during a difficult pandemic year, though General Manager Kali Weber did point to positives or “silver linings” in her presentation to council Monday.
The Dekker Centre has emerged from 2020 financially stable, thanks to continued city support as well as access to pandemic-related funds. A financial statement reported an accumulated surplus of $58,452.
Weber reported they were able to eliminate an ongoing deficit, they have increased their cash flow and they have received numerous subsidies and grants to sustain their organization during the pandemic.
Weber said the Dekker Centre has received the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy since March 2020, have received the Canadian Emergency Business Account and has received multiple grants from the Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency Payment Program and also the Saskatchewan Tourism Sector Support Program.
“Those four subsidies and grants have been essential to us having stability during the pandemic,” said Weber.
Weber also said they were able to look internally and create a strategy for success post-pandemic. They have done an extensive marketing and research project, and Weber said, from that, they have created operational policies they hope to launch for the fall selection of shows.
Weber also expressed a desire for a more “accessible” Dekker Centre. She noted there are demographics in the community that are underserved and “we want to continue to remove financial barriers that some people may experience and as a result have more people come to the facility.” She also expressed a desire to offer more live streaming.
Weber also said the Dekker Centre wants to reach Indigenous communities. As part of their marketing and research project, they conducted an Indigenous focus group and learned “we are not reaching Indigenous communities, there is work to be done.” Weber indicated reaching Indigenous communities would be a priority, as is school-based programming.
Weber also expressed a desire to continue their “family” series of shows to bring young families to the Dekker Centre and plan to revive the Dekker Centre Young People’s Theatre Ensemble in 2022. The program has high school students come together to write a play on a topic of concern to them.
Finally, Weber is looking towards facility improvements and they plan to apply to the Canadian Heritage Cultural Spaces Fund. This funding, if successful, would go towards such items as improving Lawrence Hall and maintaining/improving their equipment and sound system.
