Winnipeg theatres see some building funding, but still need continued arts funding

Over the summer, the Gas Station Arts Centre in Winnipeg saw a major theatre renovation with new seating, carpets, and house lighting.

Executive director Nick Kowalchuk says it’s a great change, not only to improve the experience for audiences sitting in the seats — it also increases accessibility.

“Oh, [the seats are] wonderful. Maybe they’re not Rolls Royce, but they’re so, so comfortable,” said Kowalchuk.

“Patrons will love it. It’s easier to look for lost items if somebody drops their cellphone or whatever, they’ll see it. They’ll notice it. It’s a lot cleaner look.”

Kowalchuk says it was provincial funding matched by a donor that made the renovations possible, which also means the theatre will be able to move into part 2 of their renovations: the lobby and the courtyard. But for now, what he’s most looking forward to is the reaction from audiences when the season officially kicks off in September.

But for now, what he’s most looking forward to is the reaction from audiences when the season officially kicks off in September.

“The first event is ours, is tequila tasting September 19th. And then after that we’ll have African Movie Festival and then Reel Pride Film Festival.”

But while some theatres have finally secured much-needed funding, others are still needing more to care for their aged buildings. Over at Rainbow Stage, artistic director Carson Nattrass has a long list of renovations to try and tackle.

“What we’re sitting in is essentially a time capsule from 1985,” said Nattrass. “We are in this beautiful venue unlike any other in the country, and it needs some love.”

The city has committed $3 million for the building, with the province matching half and The Winnipeg Foundation pitching in. But it’s not quite enough — renovating the largest outdoor theatre in Canada takes a lot of money.

Nattrass is hoping federal funding will be coming in. It isn’t guaranteed, but it’s needed for all the accessibility upgrades his patrons need like air conditioning and accessible washrooms.

“We want to bring in the proper railings. We need accessible water for patrons on hot days,” said Nattrass.

Another huge expense will be replacing the theatre’s iconic dome, which has leaks and patches. But Nattrass says governments and organizations are much more inclined to pay for tangible successes like renovations, so he’s waiting for what will hopefully end up being good news.

On the other hand, money for arts is a lot harder to secure.

“People are excited to leave a legacy with the support, from a government to be like, ‘Oh, we’re gonna make that building better. We can see that.’ Art is so much harder,” explained Nattrass.

“The year that we took the biggest leap forward artistically, we were defunded by the Manitoba Arts Council. Devastating.”

Nattrass says when it came to applying for funding for Rainbow Stage’s last musical, Ma-Buhay!, they were forced to operate with less of a budget than it was used to. But the artistic director doesn’t blame MAC at all. With an influx of artists and not enough money to go around, he understands that sometimes the answer is ‘no’.

“We are hoping that the government can find unique ways to invest more in the Manitoba Arts Council so that the answer from them isn’t, ‘Sorry, we don’t have space for you.'”

He says he has optimism with the province’s Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism, Glen Simard, who toured the facility. Nattrass recalls Simard comparing long-standing arts establishments like Rainbow Stage to redwood trees.

“Suggesting that the growth of a forest requires these pillars, these long-standing arts organizations, and that’s what keeps new growth healthy.”

Glen Simard said in a statement to CityNews, “I continue to meet with the arts community to see how we can continue to support and recognize their incredible work in enriching the lives of Manitobans. In this past budget, our government increased funding to the Manitoba Arts Council by over one million dollars, which will continue to help Manitoba artists. The community has suffered from years of cuts and freezes by the previous government. We remain committed to working with the creative sector to identify solutions to help them continue to delight and entertain Manitobans.”