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Home My WebLink About5.1 Children'sThtreWrkshpFnding e e . CITY OF DUBLIN ~QJ>A STA~-.wr CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: December 13, 1993 Written Communication: Request for Funding From the Children's Theatre Workshop (Prepared by: Lou Ann Riera-Texeira) ~Letter dated November 24, 1993 from the Children's Theatre workshop RJCOMNINOATt~eceive presentation. PIRANCIAL The Children's Theatre Workshop has requested a STATIKBJf: contribution of $10,000. SUBJECT; EXBIBITS: DESCRIPTION: Correspondence has been received from the Children's Theatre Workshop (CTW), requesting that the city of Dublin contribute a one-time donation of $10,000 to assist CTW in securing a permanent home. CTW, a Tri-Valley based organization, provides a variety of cultural and educational programs and activities to thousands of Tri-Valley residents. programs include theatrical classes, conservatory programs, school touring shows and mainstage productions. For the past several years, CTW has occupied a number of facilities in the Tri-Valley area, including locations in Dublin, Livermore and Pleasanton. CUrrently, CTW rents office space in Pleasanton; rents rehearsal space in the Hacienda Business Park; and rents performing space at Amador High School in Pleasanton. Each year, CTW spends approximately $80,000 on rent and facility improvements. The inability to secure a permanent facility, coupled with costs associated with relocating and tenant improvements, and declining ticket reYenue has resulted in financial difficulties for CTW. As indicated in the attached letter, CTW is looking to secure a permanent facility to house office, educational and theatrical activities. CTW's current space needs are approximately 10,000 square feet of usable space (a minimum of 4,500 sq. ft. for performance as mandated by the state Fire Marshal). The maximum affordable rent CTW is able to pay is $.35 per sq. ft.. The spacial and budgetary restrictions have limited CTW's ability to acquire a facility. Presently, CTW is negotiating on two locations in Dublin (Viacom Building and a former church site, both located on Sierra Court). Further, negotiations with the owners of the old courthouse in Livermore have been unsuccessful due to the cost of space ($.70 per sq. ft.). CTW staff has indicated that potential space in walnut Creek may be available. However, the CTW Board of Directors is opposed to relocating the CTW out of the Tri-Valley area. During the remainder of Fiscal Year 1993-94, CTW will incur expenses in excess of $40,000, regardless of whether or not they secure a permanent facility_ consequently, CTW has initiated a massive campaign to raise funds to meet their financial Obligations and to assist in acqu1r1ng a permanent facility. CTW has approached all of the Tri-Valley cities (Oanville, DUblin, Livermore, Pleasanton, and San Ramon) for funding. -------------------------------------------------------------~-------- COPIES TO: CITY CLERK FILE ~ ITEM NO. 5. I e e Further, CTW has requested donations from patrons, corporate sponsors and the business community. To date, CTW has received over $3,000 in private donations. In addition, the Tri-valley Herald has pledged a percentage of revenue earned from new newspaper subscriptions to CTW. CTW is hoping to raise approximately $20,000 in private, corporate and business donations. Further, CTW hopes to match the remaining $20,000 with public agency contributions. All contributions will be used to fund facility needs (i.e., rent, tenant improvements, etc.). All pUblic agency requests are considered one-time requests. e D;cC:4~~ CITY OF DUBLIN Children's Theatre Workshop A Theatre For Families November 24, 1993 Ka y Keck City of Dublin 100 Civic Plaza Dublin, CA 94568 " Dear Ms. Keck, As a supporter of educational theatre for families you know how important CTW is to our community. In a time when newspaper headlines mourn victims of domestic violence, decry gang fights and hate crimes, and worry about the future of our schools, we at CTW strive to provide a place where families can come together to share, discuss, and reflect on the issues pertinent to them today. As a society, \ve are becoming more isolated and fragmented, less able to hear and understand one another; CTW creates a venue for family communication - precisrly at the time we need to hear each other most. " CTW has been an essential part of the cultural lives of Dublin families for the past 13 years. Each year, CTW's touring program reaches every grade school and junior high student in Dublin (Nielson, Murry, Fredricksen, and Wells) and 3,000 Dublin residents' will see a CTW mainstage show during the 1993-94 season. 15% of the students in erN's classes and conservatory programs are Dublin residents. For most Dublin kids, CTW's school touring shows are the first theater they \'\'ill experience. All of CTW's performances emphasize audience participation, and encourage discussion of classic works of literature and contemporary issues. CTW is currently considering several sites in Dublin for a permanent location. However, our ability to continue to bring you our programs is in danger without your support. CTW is in dire straits financially. A brutal economy and the need for a permanent home have called into question our existence. If we cannot find a way to generate $40,000 in the next 45 days, we will have to close the doors. In other words, the Tri-Valley's only educational theatre for families, which caters to over 100,000 children and families each year will cease to exist. If we can 519 Kottinger Drive Pleasanton, CA 94566 ( 5 1 0) 8 4 6 -5 4 0 0 l.aise the money, we plan to a!SSiVelY pursue the finding of a p!anent home. We are currently pursuing two locations in Dublin, both on Sierra Court. We urgently need your assistance. As a progressive city who genuinely cares about our youth and the arts, a tremendous opportunity awaits you - an investment in the future of our community and our children. Please consider a gift of $10,000 to help us reach our goal and enable us to do what we do best - provide an environment conducive to entertainment, education, and excellence. Of course, a gift of any amount is welcome. We plan to challenge the community at large to match whatever funding you are able to provide. Together we can make a difference by ensuring that live theatre for families and arts education will be available to future generations of families right here at home. BACKGROUND: SPACE Each year CTW spends close to $80,000 on rent and facility improvements for the theatres we move into. We would much rather spend this money on a facility that we can call "home". Ironically, CTW has been able to function for the last twelve years as a portable theatre company, but the troubles have finally caught up with us. Whether or not this educational theatre for families and youth will be able to withstand the current season is still a question in the minds of the staff and Board of Directors at CTW. Being homeless may quickl~ bring down the house curtain. What will space bring CTW? · Stability Stability will maintain audience base through improved ease of locating productions. It will improve classroom planning, program administration, rehearsal efficiency, storage space, and construction safety and efficiency. .. ,. · Efficiency Efficiency reduces production costs through ability to mount non-portable sets and will reduce the pitfalls, inconveniences, and problems that inevitably arise when borrowing someone else's property. · Reliability Reliability will arise through the consistency of location, box office, seats, and rest rooms. This is especially important to families with young children. Consistent stage visibility is an audience expectation difficult to maintain without the reliabilty of space. · Time Value Reduces staff and volunteer time dealing with constant space planning, agreements, and production issues. · Management without crisis Improves ability to manage public relations and marketing affairs without a location crisis. '. 'Motivation Volunteers h.ave stated interest to take on more projects with stable expectations and a reliable facility. Actors and staff \vill be motivated to participate through reliability of rehearsal and performance space. · Safety Safety will be improved by building fewer portable production sets. Portable and semi-portable sets are a greater investment to build because of the safety standards that must be met. · Cost Effective Permanent space will be more cost effective by reducing transportatis>n, assembly and disassembly of portable sets. Short term contracts with landlords are more costly than long term agreements. What are the plans for CTW's usage of space? CTW's Future Goals are to develop a "CENTER FOR FAMILY EDUCATION" - A FULL USE :MlJLTI-SERVICE CENTER. This facility will bring together the cooperation of human service, arts service and education under one roof. This facilities purpose will be to provide place where families can share and explore values and ideas, focus on ones' creativity and self, and have avialable to them the many resources contemporary families need today. Please consider this very important issue for the agenda of your December meeting. We want a chance to show you the community support of our programs and to explain our needs in more detail. Call us with questions or concerns at (510) 846-5400. Thank you. ~ ~~~~-W) Karen Burton-Lind President, Board of Directors Scott Evan Guggenheim Executive Director cc. City Mayor, Peter W. Snyder City Manager, Richard Ambrose