The executive director of the association that runs Calgary's Grand Theater says a potential plan was rejected by the building's landlord at the 11th hour, leaving the historic arts and culture hub facing an uncertain future. .
Erin Lister said the plan focuses on building a sustainable financial future for the Grand Theater and centers around a resource-sharing agreement to bring theater operations under the Arts Commons umbrella. Stated.
Lister has been working on the proposal for the past two years, but in January the Grand Theater building's landlord, Allied Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), announced it was no longer supporting it. He said he knew.
“We were really excited to share this with the community. This was a sustainable, well-thought-out plan,” Lister said.
The lobby of the Grand Theater in 1933-1934. Built in 1912 as a vaudeville theater, the Grand's space has been home to a variety of arts and artists over the years. (Glenbow Archive/University of Calgary)
“All parties were at the table and the terms appeared to be very compliant, although we honestly thought we were putting the finishing touches on an agreement. , instead our proposal was rejected at the last minute.”
She added that until the plan was rejected, she was under the impression that Allied shared a long-term vision for a large theater.
The Grand Theater was sold to Allied in 2021. After a long search for a suitable landowner, Lister said the Grand Theater Association was comfortable selling to Allied because of its support for historic buildings.
Mr Lister said the veto might have been easier to accept if it had occurred earlier in the negotiations, while society still had time to consider alternative fiscal strategies.
Listen | Calgary Grand Theater Association President talks about challenges and negotiations:
“If we had had other options to pursue, we would have done it a year and a half ago. But we are now in a situation where we are in the 11th hour with very limited options in front of us. I feel like I’m in it.”
For now, Lister said Grand Theater Society will continue to act in good faith with Allied while coming up with other solutions to save Calgary's theaters.
Karen Ball is a long-time Calgary community leader and arts advocate. She said cities need to prioritize spaces like grand theaters for the arts to thrive.
“It's heartbreaking to see venues lose because they don't have a business model to support their long-term operations,” Ball said.
View from the main stage of the Grand Theater. Calgary arts advocate Karen Ball says the city needs to prioritize spaces like the Grand in order for the arts to thrive. (Terry Trembath/CBC)
Built in 1912 as a vaudeville theater, the Grand's space has been home to a variety of arts and artists over the years.
Pierre Gauthier was general manager of the Grand Theater from the 1960s to the early 1980s, when it specialized in movies.
“It was a great time…Everyone was coming to the theater back then. I mean everyone,” Gauthier said.
Entrance to the Grand Theater in 1956. “The theater is never the same,” says Pierre Gauthier, general manager of the Grand Theater from the 1960s until his early 1980s. (Glenbow Archive/University of Calgary)
The former general manager, who now lives in B.C., said he looks back fondly on his 20-year career on the field.
“People came from out of town back then. In small towns, you couldn't take pictures for three months, two months,” he says.
“The theater will never be the same.”
loss of creative space
Ball is not alone in this view. Alex Salian, president and CEO of Arts Commons, said there is a demand among Calgarians for arts and cultural facilities in the city, but a loss of physical space has led to a decline in demand across the country. Arts organizations say they are in a difficult position.
“When we were talking to the Grand Theater Society and Allied Reit, we were very keen to see how that could be done. [Arts Commons’s] “Expertise may actually be a contributing factor to creating a vibrant business model for that particular venue,” he said.
“The question remains: What role can we play in ensuring this venue remains accessible to artists, arts organizations and audiences for the next 100 years?”
“Losing a venue open to the public will impact arts organizations, artists, audiences, and economic activity in the downtown core,” said Alex Salian, president and CEO of Arts Commons. Stated. (Lily Dupuis/CBC)
Losing the theater could also negatively impact economic activity in the downtown core, Salian said. He added that public and private partners need to work together to ensure the survival and success of historic arts and cultural spaces like grand theaters.
“For this venue, or frankly any other venue, to thrive, we need social enterprises to enter the vernacular of arts organizations and our business models,” Salian said.
“But it also requires private sector partners to come to the table and say we share values and are united in our belief that a vibrant arts community makes our cities better. there is.”
CBC News reached out to Allied Properties REIT for comment but did not receive a response.
