Ever since its inception in 1978, Presentation House Theatre has contributed plenty to North Vancouver - a place to meet, a performing arts stage, a home for the local museum and, perhaps most importantly, a sense of community.
Now, the community is returning the favour. But turnabout, as they say, is fair play.
Thanks to the commitment of good corporate citizens such as the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and the waterfront businesses of North Vancouver, Presentation House Theatre is able to continue its place in the local arts landscape.
Beyond private donations and sponsorships, local businesses are pitching in to help subsidize seating costs for children and seniors through Presentation House's Fill The House Campaign.
"The North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce has been really key in helping to connect us to the business community on so many levels," says Presentation House Theatre artistic director Kim Selody. "And the support we've received from local businesses and the community is phenomenal. It seems the people who live, work and play on the North Shore see the value of what we do."
At the recently held, 2012 edition of North Vancouver Chamber's annual Governor's Gala in support of Presentation House, over 50 North Shore businesses stepped up to help the theatre group raise more than $85,000 in one evening.
Presentation House Theatre board member and Neptune Terminals president Jim Belsheim, in particular, says Selody, has been a crucial booster for the cause.
"The waterfront community of Neptune, KinderMorgan, CN, Cargill, Richardson, Western Stevedoring, Seaspan, and Port Metro Vancouver have been our best champions directly sponsoring our productions this year. They have helped connect our vision and values to the business community at large. Jim Belsheim in particular is a wonderful ambassador for us, as well as a great advocate for the professional performing arts. He's shown great foresight in helping us build meaningful relationships with local businesses and corporations.
"I can totally appreciate how smaller and larger businesses on the North Shore are hit up all the time for money for all kinds of things and as an arts organization we understand how highly competitive it is for us to try and develop those kinds of partnerships. Having a group of businesses who already have relationships with all those people on a business level and being able to speak for us really helps."
If it weren't for the support of the Chamber and local businesses like the group who operate on the waterfront, says Selody, Presentation House Theatre might not be in such healthy shape - especially in light of the myriad of cuts currently being made to arts grants and programs across the country.
"The support we have received from the city and local businesses has ensured our survival and sustainability. We would not be here without their belief in what we do. It's a very forward-thinking community."
Selody comes by his admiration for Presentation House Theatre quite honestly.
Before he joined the local organization as artistic director, he was a theatre program officer at the Canada Council for the Arts, a job which sent him across the country to examine the audiences, business models and relationships various community theatre groups have with both private and public sector funding.
What he saw at Presentation House Theatre put it heads and shoulders above similar organizations.
"When I saw this one I said 'My God, you've got such a supportive community here. Usually people have to fight tooth and nail to find this sort of support."
GET TO KNOW ME
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE ON THE NORTH SHORE?
Appropriately, the roof of Presentation House Theatre. It features an amazing view of the City of Vancouver, the mountains and Burrard Inlet. On a sunny day, nothing beats it.
WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES?
I have been trying to learn to play the fiddle for the past ten years.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE BEVERAGE?
A good red wine from B.C.
DO YOU HAVE MUCH FREE TIME?
Free time? Are you serious? Working in the arts is a calling, and all the artists I know are workaholics, much like myself. However, as I get older, I try to find the balance. When I have free time I ride my electric bike, kayak and hike and cross-country ski in the winter.
What is your favourite music?
Martha Wainwright and Celtic fiddle tunes.
