The Arts Council of Ladysmith and District is looking at options to make up for lost revenue due to its temporary location and the pandemic, but is facing an uncertain future. It presented an annual report at town council’s Dec. 7 meeting and asked for a line item in the town budget for $30,000 each year for three years, which was not approved.
Mayor Aaron Stone said the town has been under financial pressure throughout the pandemic, which has stalled progress on many projects, including renovations to the Machine shop, where the gallery used to be housed.
“If anybody understands the pain and the feeling of financial challenge — I think the people around this table and our staff definitely do,” he said. Council expressed support for the arts and the Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery, but could not commit the funds late in it budget approval process.
“I wish there was a magic wand that we could just wave and make everything better,” said Coun. Tricia McKay. “We all know that is not the case. Moving forward I am happy that we can have more conversation about it. I feel as though there is so much pulling on the council and pulling on communities, pulling on government right now that I don’t think anybody is going to be happy at the end of it.”
The arts council reported a significant loss in revenue, membership and donations since moving to the Davis Road school in 2019. “With fewer volunteers, we are stretched thin to cover having the gallery open in hopes of more people visiting,” reads its presentation.
Gift shop sales were down $14,724 since 2018; door donations were down $3500 and fundraising was down $8,688, according to the report.
The art council received one-time funding from the federal and provincial governments during the pandemic, which allowed it to hire a media coordinator. This helped to grow its social media and online presence, but as the funds run out the council has to find new ways to increase revenue.
The biggest challenges it faces are the location, operating costs, retention of staff and an uncertain future. According to Chris Barfoot, director of parks recreation and culture for the town, the school district has indicated it may use the Davis Road school as part of a plan to renovate other schools — this would leave the art gallery with no venue.
The arts council said it has choices to find retail or office space (which would mean going digital only); move the organization to a new community or dissolve it and close down.
“I believe everybody around this table is 110 per cent behind the arts council and the desire to keep them here. Myself included,” said Coun. Duck Paterson.
The preferred option for the arts council is to start a fundraising campaign to help get the gallery back into the Machine Shop.
“Community just isn’t a bunch of people living together — it’s a community as a whole and I think arts are a big part of the soul of a community,” said Coun. Jeff Virtanen.
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