Kay Meek Volunteers Sandi Asfar Sandra Barker Cordelia Benjamin Lori Blockberger Sandra Booth Ronny Brumec Marion Campbell Trudie Carlson Ruth Casselman Sophie Chappell Bonnie Cicha Suzanne Clayton Daphne Cole Barbara Collingwood Jolyne Conrad Catherine Crouch Sara Dalkilic Donna Davies Alex Donville Jenny Evans Helen Fletcher Nisha Foerstner Cindy Frostad Sharon Gerbasi Bonnie Gordon Judy Gosney Robert Gumuchian Joanne Guppy Sophia Gupta Judy Hafey Diane Haigh Betty Hayes Vladimira Horvathova Evelyn Huang Sharon Huang Kay Hughes Carolyn Hui
David Hur Judy Jackson Svava Johnson Rachel Johnston Barbara Kaye Ruth Keslake Linda Koopman Sid Kozak Gita Laflair Dawn Langley Howard Lee Steven Lee Heather Legresley Celine Liang Alena Liao Jessie Lin Rita Liu Irene Lukkarinen Chantal Ma Janet Marsh Loretta Mason Lisa Masterson Saffa Mayelafshar Brenda McArthur John McBain Barbara McGregor Joan McLeod Lesley McPherson Donna Mihm Suzy Moll Dorothy Moore Gisele Mortimer Helia Movasaghi Molly Murray Cindy Neave Katrina Nightingale Roseann Pasco
Judy Paton Carol Pilote Dawn Robb Bruce Robb Barbara Roberts Phyllis Robertson Landra Robinson Lorna Ruelle Beth Rutley Rikke Rytter Marlene Scott Elizabeth Shaw Pamela Shaw Ailsa Sherrington Joy Simmons Donna Simon Bonnie Stuart Jj Terdtoontaveedej Fay Thompson Ahn Tran Jessie Treagus Kim Vogt Brenda Walker Bonnie Walton Emily Wei Cora Whiting Kay Wiewel Regla Wong Philip Wright Frances Wu Kenny Wu Stanley Wu Sophy Xie Mike Xu Dorothy Yates Tristan Zeng
West Vancouver Arts Centre Trust
Strategic Plan
2012-2017
Dear Neighbour, It is hard to believe that less than ten years ago, the Kay Meek Centre for the Performing Arts was just the dream of a small but very committed group of West Vancouver residents. Advocates from the arts communities, the business sector and elected officials on the school board and council, motivated by a million dollar gift from our benefactor, Mrs Kay Meek, established the foundation for a cultural jewel. Building on the dramatic success of five growing seasons of theatre, music, dance, film, imaginative educational programs, and dynamic community outreach, KMC engages over 50,000 people a year, drawing audiences from West Vancouver, North Vancouver, the West End, Point Grey & beyond, delivering an experience that is dynamic, engaging, passionate, and highly visible! Ready to do more, “The Meek” as an outstanding centre will no longer simply “present” the best but will also “produce” our own works. Moving forward, we intend to focus more on the needs of young people, tying programs and presentations to school curricula all the while inspiring imagination and creativity. We will develop audiences based on the artistic endeavors that you tell us that you want. With stronger ties to the school board and the municipality and increasing support based on service agreements, we now need to celebrate our amazing corporate partners and expand their number. Many residents give and give generously to the Meek, allowing us to keep ticket prices below 40% of cost to enable a broad spectrum of attendance, and we need to expand this number as well. It is an exciting time for the Kay Meek Centre. I hope you will join us in our journey to grow and change, making the Meek, the cultural jewel of West Vancouver, even better.
Kan Haycock Chair, West Vancouver Arts Centre Trust
Kay Meek Centre Staff Claude Giroux, Artistic and Managing Director Galen Olstead, Operations Director Elaine McHarg, Director, Marketing, Community Relations and Development Andrew McCaw, Production Manager and Technical Director Kat Brooking, Assistant Technical Director Connie Crawford, Accountant Kim Violato, Box Office and Communications Manager Natalie Roizman, Artistic Associate Mina Khatam, Front Of House and Volunteer Manager Mercedes Dunphy,Front Of House Manager Elizabeth Ferguson, Box Office Sherry Glen, Box Office Stuart McArthur, Technician Stephanie Jew, Technician Derek Meehan, Technician Ryan Murcar, Technician Justin Corrie, Technician Matt Oviatt, Technician Nathan Kelly, Technician Kelly Savage, Technician Garreth Lau, Technician Tiffany Bishop, Wardrobe Supervisor Geoffrey Jones, Office Assistant Joan McLeod, Board Administrator (Volunteer) Stephen Fichtner, Volunteer Tech Club Student Volunteers Jeff Tsu Jimmy Tsu Jay Lin James Tsai Jackie Bao Tatyana Andre Louis Liu Steven Kim Alex Shin Bob Wang Michael Zhu Andrew Zhu Robin Ji
HISTORY
Kay Meek Centre Board Ken Haycock (chair) Audrey Sojonky (vice chair) Peter Greenwood (treasurer) Miriam Olney (secretary) Dorothy Byrne (director) David Gouthro (director) Jennifer Hatton (director) Marjan Jamsaz (director) Janis McCaffrey (director) Katherine Tong (director) Paul Tutsch (director) Coral Winfield (director) The Board Strategic Planning Committee included directors Jennifer Hatton, Jan McCaffrey, Paul Tutsch and former chair Susanna Bell-Irving Gray.
In 1996 a Task Force was struck by the West Vancouver Community Arts Council to study arts centres in the Greater Vancouver Regional District, and to articulate specific needs for an arts centre within the community. Subsequently, the West Vancouver Visual Arts Society, funded by an operational donation from Mrs. Kay Meek, commissioned a study to establish the level of community support for a performing arts centre. In 1999 the Society was renamed West Vancouver Arts Centre Trust with the purpose of fundraising for, and constructing a performing arts centre in West Vancouver. The Kay Meek Centre opened its doors November 6, 2004, the same day that our patron, Kay Meek, passed away. It is with this gift along with her vision for a place of creativity and learning that Kay left her legacy for all West Vancouver and North Shore residents.
MISSION “Kay Meek Centre produces, provides and presents excellent performing arts experiences and opportunities for our community and beyond.�
VISION "The Kay Meek Centre is recognized as a catalyst for shared human experience and artistic leadership."
honesty
transparency
VALUES Our Values describe the personal traits that guide us while striving to fulfill our Vision. These Values are embraced by the entire Kay Meek family: board, staff and volunteers. Excellence
Transparency
We pursue creativity and high achievement in everything we do. We are open and accountable.
respect STRATEGIC excellence gratitude Honesty
We are truthful in our interactions.
Respect
We actively listen, and promote a culture of inclusion.
Gratitude
We never take an audience for granted.
Rentals are a significant revenue component to “The Meek” and present a growing opportunity. We will: •
Improve all box office services.
•
Diversify concession services.
•
Increase rental revenues.
CLIENT SERVICES
transparency
respect
OBJECTIVES The Kay Meek Centre is on the precipice of significant change in its overall operational model, creative leadership, and public profile. Our Strategic Objectives align with this evolution and provide a clear path for achieving our Vision and for meeting the needs of our community. In clarifying these objectives our aim is to leverage the infrastructures, relationships and operational acumen we have developed in our first 6 years of operation. The areas we have identified as key to our ongoing development and successes are:
1.
Board
2.
Administration
3.
Partnerships
4.
Resource Development
5.
Marketing/Branding
6.
Programming
7.
Youth Outreach
8.
Audience Development
9.
Facility
10. Venue Services For each strategic objective included in this document there are precise measurements, timelines and responsibilities.
THE BOARD
Our facility is the foundation and platform for everything we do. We will: •
Align all physical assets to reflect municipal standards.
•
Create a consistent visual esthetic.
•
Increase safety, visibility and accessibility throughout the facility and its adjoining grounds.
FACILITY
The Board of Directors of The West Vancouver Arts Centre Trust is responsible for the success of “The Meek”. We will: •
Implement a comprehensive model of governance that reflects best practices for Not-for-Profit organizations.
•
Clarify board member responsibilities to “The Meek,” its stakeholders and the community.
•
Attract, retain and develop the most skilled, diverse and committed board members.
•
Enhance communication and understanding of roles of the board and staff.
•
Improve the board’s presence and the Board Chair’s profile in the community.
•
Communicate fund development strategies and opportunities to our community.
•
Strengthen the board’s risk analysis capabilities.
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
To reach a greater and wider spectrum of our community, we will: •
Create a cross-pollination campaign.
•
Create a revenue generating incentive program.
•
Cross-market with other performing arts organizations.
•
Initiate a post event marketing strategy.
•
Grow our teen and senior audiences.
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Our people and the work they do is the foundation of any success that ”The Meek” will achieve. The administration is responsible for leadership and the realization of our Vision. We will:
•
Update staff and corporate structures to create sound financial management and reporting practices.
•
Attract, retain and develop the most skilled and committed volunteers and staff.
•
Update our policies, management and governance documents to provide clear guidance for staff and volunteers, approved by the board.
•
Create, implement, and clarify guidelines for the recognition, recruitment and visibility of our volunteers.
YOUTH OUTREACH PARTNERSHIPS
Kay Meek provided funding for this facility with the purpose of serving and providing performing arts opportunities for young people. We will: •
Further develop relationships with youth oriented programmers.
•
Offer master classes, artistic interactions and artist residencies to students, schools and community members.
•
Collaborate with West Vancouver schools to align programming with curriculum.
•
Inaugurate a youth theatre performance program and internship.
YOUTH OUTREACH PARTNERSHIPS
The success of our work is reliant on initiating and maintaining strong relationships with our audiences, financial supporters and community. We will: •
Strengthen and steward relationships with District of West Vancouver and School District 45.
•
Acquire the support of the municipality in recognizing “The Meek” as a “community hub”.
•
Play a pivotal role in the cultural landscape by expanding our activities and relationships beyond the walls of our facility.
•
Build stronger relationships between core community pillar organizations to better serve the community; ”Together is Better”.
•
Encourage the creation of and take an active role in a West Vancouver arts collaboration.
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
We are committed to creating, presenting and supporting excellent performing arts events. We will: •
Improve existing programming, with specific attention to youth and families, Canadian content and theatre.
•
Become a producing and presenting theatre.
•
Attract young adults (18-30 yrs).
•
Be an incubator for unique creations; nurture the development of new works and encourage local talent.
•
Cultivate productive partnerships with local, regional, national, and international creative partners.
PROGRAMMING
“The Meek” must increase contributed income. We will: •
Increase our endowment and contingency funds.
•
Secure naming sponsors for the Mainstage and Studio theatres.
•
Increase individual giving.
•
Launch a planned giving campaign.
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Increase grants revenue.
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Formalize sponsor stewardship.
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Initiate an Alumni group to raise “The Meek” profile and increase donations.
MARKETING/ BRANDING
THE MEEK
We want “The Meek” to be a name familiar to everyone. We will: •
Brand the Kay Meek Centre as “The Meek”.
•
Brand and position “The Meek” as the cultural heart and hub of all performing arts in West Vancouver.
•
Make “The Meek” synonymous with excellent performing arts and superior and personal customer service.
•
Understand better the needs, interests and desires of our community.
•
Expand our social media profile.