Saanich council has agreed to a new formula for the three municipalities funding the Royal Theatre.
The adjusted formula, which still has to be endorsed by Victoria and Oak Bay, would see the theatre’s total requisition from the three increase by 3.5 per cent to $600,000 in 2024.
The change will cost Saanich $3,100 more per year.
Saanich Coun. Colin Plant, chair of the Capital Regional District board, said municipal funding for the theatre has been “frozen” for the past 25 years. “This bylaw change allows for the theatre to receive modest increases to their operating and capital budgets over time,” said Plant.
According to a Saanich staff report, the theatre requires additional funding to keep up with increasing costs of both operating and capital maintenance.
Franz Lehrbass, executive director of the Royal & McPherson Theatres Society, said the additional funds will support theatre access for schools and local non-profits such as the Victoria Symphony, Pacific Opera, Dance Victoria, Victoria Ballet Victoria, the Salvation Army, the Victoria Jazz Society and Community Living Victoria.
Lehrbass said in a presentation to Saanich council that revenue from those clients does not cover the theatre’s overhead, which means it’s increasingly required to rely on income from commercial shows, which means fewer dates for community groups.
With municipal funding unchanged in 25 years despite inflation, the funding “has lost about 40 per cent of its value,” said Lehrbass, adding the theatre also needs structural improvements, seismic renovations and attention to deferred maintenance.
Plant said he hopes Victoria and Oak Bay are on board with the CRD’s request, as the new bylaw requires two of the three to support it.
He said he would like to see a more regional approach to funding cultural amenities, and plans to bring a notice of motion to the CRD board asking for a review of what was discussed about a regional arts facilities service during the last board’s term.
“I think all of the major public regional performing-arts facilities could and should be supported by the region as a whole, as we all benefit from them,” he said.
The CRD re-acquired the Royal Theatre from Saanich, Victoria and Oak Bay in 1998, and funds operations and maintenance through money from the three municipalities.
