Annual Report 2012 Web by The Living Arts Centre

2012

ANNUAL REPORT

LIVING ARTS CENTRE STAFF Mr. Ron Lenyk, CEO Suhara Amith, Executive Assistant

CUSTOMER & FACILITY SERVICES

Message from the Chairman and the CEO Staff and patrons of the Living Arts Centre (LAC) In addition to grants from the City of Mississauga, blew out the candles on yet another successful Ontario Dance and Heritage Canada, Pepsi Hilton year in celebration of the centre’s 15th anniversary. Garden Inn, RBC, Pratt & Whitney Canada, TD Bank For the eighth successive year, revenues exceeded and Mother Parker’s contributed as sponsors. expenses before amortization and $250,000 was The Mississauga News provided a major media sponsorship. transferred to the Program Initiatives Fund. With funding from the City of Mississauga’s Culture division, the Summer Outreach Program which provides an introduction to the arts for Mississauga children was presented in six communities and at two city festivals.

A supplier sponsorship program was initiated. Included are Affair Party Rentals Allseas Fisheries Corporation, Ecolab, Everist Brothers and the Pearl Trading Company.

We thank all our sponsors. The outdoor concert at Mississauga Celebration The Centre also owes its success to the dedication Square was not held due to artist illness. and hard work of managers, staff and volunteer Theatre attendance topped 120,000 patrons, more directors who strive to reach objectives within a than the previous year. The largest theatre, fiscally responsible framework. Hammerson Hall, was in use 186 days and the The City is a major player. It provides the facility Royal Bank Theatre 207 days. and services including utilities, security and The Centre provided programming, in English and custodial. This commitment to LAC’s success is French for more than 13,000 students and school very much appreciated. workshops engaged another 22,500 students while Studio participation, Camps, Resident Artist We thank the Mayor, Councillors, City Manager, Programs and Community Course programming Commissioners, Culture Division and all staff for their support. were also offered and well attended.

Camps program was supported with 5,077 donated hours of local high school students. Next year, we expect school programming may be cut with the suspension of extra-curricular activities by teachers.

For the 2012-2013 season, a number of new initiatives – expansion of the Summer Outreach Program, the Mississauga Series, Opera Film Series, the Hazel McCallion Arts for Life Gala, Patron Appreciation and Membership programs will be introduced. Down the road we are also looking at establishing a Children’s Festival and a seniors’ art program.

Initiatives in our Exhibition space continued with a community focus. Resident artist exhibitions were also featured at University of Toronto Mississauga The Mississauga Series, featuring Mississauga and Pearson International Airport. entertainers, is planned with four concerts in the LAC’s resident company, Mississauga Symphony upcoming season. The Hazel McCallion “Arts for held six concerts including a special tribute concert Life” Gala will also showcase local talent. for retiring musical director John Barnum. These new strategic initiatives will be supported We are grateful to our more than 220 volunteers with added community events and sponsorship who served the Centre in so many areas including resources as we strive to meet our vision of “Arts front line services, gift shop, camps, gallery for Life.” information desk and our Board of Directors. The Marketing Services and Communication Department was instrumental in supporting the branding committee, suggesting new initiatives while supplementing core elements including print, advertising, and both new and social media. Strong revenues, with a net improvement over budget of $133,600, were provided by our restaurant, room rentals, catering business assisted greatly in supporting our arts activities.

Gail Anderson, Director of Customer & Facility Services Joel Alexander, Kristina Cuenca, John De Melo, Amanda Dwyer, Michael Estacio, Megan Paul, Amanda Nicholls, Karina Soares, Victor Svenningson Susan Campbell, Diana Chan, Marg Duncan, Jas Dhillon, Cathy Lee Keogh Hammond, Eva Keith, Wasifa Khan, Virginia Maj, Miona Necic, Leonard Neiman, Paula Pedrazas, Ksenia Sabouloua, Nicole Shaw, Krysta Soroczynski Maria Soto, Jenn Silver, Sheila Wujek

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Rob M. Hart, Director Marketing & Communications Mary Chan, Vanessa Sheriff Aiñe Curran, Special Initiatives

ARTS PROGRAM Leslie Leader, Director Arts Program Courtney Cook, Marija Duvnjak, Jessica Earley, Cati Harben Amy Ng, Megan Press, Cole Swanson, Carolyne Topdjian

BUSINESS AFFAIRS Gerry Townsend, V.P. Business Affairs Rob Brown, Manager, Accounting Grace Aldea, Debbie Choi, Mariette Rajkumar

LIVE RESTAURANT / SALES & CATERING Laszlo Buzas, Manager, Food & Beverage Anne Parker, Manager, Corporate Sales Sofia Amaro-Elliott, Alba Noronha, Esther Ortiz

CULINARY Peter Colberg, Chef de Cuisine, Mahipal Dheendsa, Sous Chef

NASCO DEPARTMENT HEADS Lance Brathwaite, Dean Collins, Kevin Kuharski, Shawn Lague, Mark Lapadula, Ian Radburn, Ray Wong Stagehands provided by NASCO Services inc.

HUMAN RESOURCES CITY OF MISSISSAUGA Christine Gabany, Angie Coccia, Natasha Grmusa

BUILDING OPERATIONS Chuck Ealey, CFP Chairman

Ron Lenyk Chief Executive Officer

CITY OF MISSISSAUGA Rob Bowslaugh, Jamie Hillis, Robert Perkins, Matt Petri

Board Of Directors

Mr. Chuck Ealey, CFP Chair, Board of Directors Regional Director, Investments Group

Mr. Patrick G. Egan, LL.B Principal, EGAN Professional Corporation

Ms. Lovleen Bassan, P.Eng Ms. Janice M. Baker, FCPA, FCA Vice Chair, Board of Directors City Manager and CAO Director, Technology & Strategic City of Mississauga Initiatives Thermal, OPG

Councillor Chris Fonseca Ward 3, City Councillor, City of Mississauga

Mr. Mark Galloway Executive Business Consultant Mississauga

Ms. Delphee Boyle Music Educator, Peel District School Board

Ms. Eva Liebermann, P. Eng. Vice President, Information Systems & Operations, Mary Kay Cosmetics Ltd.

Ms. Danielle V. D’Agostino Communications Consultant, Mississauga

Councillor Kate Mahoney Ward 8, City Councillor, City of Mississauga

Ms. Emily Brown Educator

Councillor Pat Mullin Ward 2, City Councillor City of Mississauga

VOLUNTEERS

Mr. Ronald J. Nisbet, CPA, CA Past Chair, Mississauga

Ms. Maja Prentice Retired Mississauga Councilor Ward 3

Ms. Karen Sheehan Inflight Service Director, Air Canada

Ex-Officio Members 15 Year of Service Volunteer Recognition 2012 CEO Ron Lenyk; Gail Anderson; Gerry Townsend; the late Lloyd Grandy (Volunteer); Mayor McCallion; Joanne Whitford (Volunteer); Ron Nisbet; Amanda Dwyer

Ms. Susan Burt Director, Culture Division, City of Mississauga

Mr. Ralph Hunter President, Hunter-Gray Financial Services

Councillor Frank Dale Ward 4, City Councillor, City of Mississauga

Mr. Ron Lenyk Chief Executive Officer, The Living Arts Centre

Mr. Ruben Goulart LLB Secretary Managing Partner, Keyser Mason Ball, LLP

Mr. Gerry Townsend, FCPA, FCA, VP, Business Affairs The Living Arts Centre

Volunteer of the Year 2012 Volunteer of the Year – Marion Fox with BODs. Ralph Hunter; Chuck Ealey; Gerry Townsend; Councillor Chris Fonseca; Ron Nisbet; Marion Fox; Karen Sheehan, Mayor McCallion; Delphee Boyle; Mark Galloway; Ron Lenyk;

CUSTOMER & FACILITY SERVICES

ARTS PROGRAMS

The Customer & Facility Services department provides operational services in a professional and safe manner to support all activity at the Centre.

The Arts Programs Department increased synergies between programs, performances and events with a focus on audience development.

Our Box Office team worked closely with our patrons while promoting positive experiences. Overall tickets issued for theatre events was 104,125 being a 3% improvement over Gail Anderson the previous year. The reception staff, including the volunteer Information Officers, provided essential front-line services and our Front of House team ensured a safe and healthy venue during all events.

A wide variety of arts programs was showcased within the Centre’s Theatres. 60% of the programs within Hammerson Hall was from the arts community, 17% was programmed by the Leslie Leader Centre and 23% was used for corporate arts performances and events. Hammerson Hall was used for 186 days and the RBC theatre was used for 207 days, Theatre attendance was 120,000 which was higher than the previous year.

As part of our Lobby Bar operations we worked collaboratively with our Food and Beverage department to improve service during theatre events.

The LAC Presents season featured 68 performances in 40 productions for children, family and adult audiences across the Special Events, Relaxed, Wiggle Club and School Series. Attendance within these performances was 32,162 which represented 62% of capacity.

Our Technical team, which includes the contracted services of Nasco Staffing Solutions, continued to provide guidance and advice to users to ensure the best possible service and production value. This year our crew supported more than 247 different events for our clients. Over 220 volunteers served the Centre in front line services from the gift shop to the theatres, from camps to the art gallery, the information desk to the outreach booth, and on our Board of Directors. In total more than 18,000 hours were completed this season. We have 27 volunteers who reached 10 years of service and eight volunteers with 5 years and two with 15 years of service. Our Volunteer Social Committee organized three events – Games Night in October, Potluck Dinner in March, and the Summer BBQ in July.

MARKETING SERVICES Throughout the year Marketing and Communications continued to focus on increasing sales and attendance at all LAC performances, studio arts activities and LIVE Restaurant. All marketing and advertising materials maintained a cohesive corporate brand across all LAC properties and initiatives. Rob Hart The department endeavoured to solidify ongoing partnerships with both community and media organizations and also forge new ones to strengthen the brand within the community.

Through the work of the branding committee, a brand statement was created to help guide activity moving forward. Based on the branding exercise and the resulting brand statement a number of experiential initiatives have been built into the 2013 business plan. Key initiatives resulting from planning of the branding initiative were the introduction of both a Patron Appreciation night to be held in September and the ARTS for Life membership program. Marketing for the Performing Arts continued to build on our profile in Mississauga and surrounding communities. The core elements included the season brochure, print advertising, radio, outdoor and online elements. The Centre continued to have a strong presence at various community events in the Mississauga area. We continued to fine tune and implement electronic marketing strategies. The website continues to evolve and improve. The purchase pathway has been simplified and more interactive elements have resulted in an increase in traffic. Social media has been used to promote and gain marketplace presence through regular updates. This medium continues to grow in importance as a vital element in overall marketing.

The Mississauga Symphony, as the Centre’s Resident Tenant, presented six performances in Hammerson Hall and was extremely successful with its holiday performance presented in partnership with Cawthra Park Secondary coming close to selling out. The Centre worked with the Orchestra to co-present Classic Albums LIVE –

Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. A wide variety of new and returning clients performed within the Centre’s theatres with rental activity reflecting Mississauga’s diverse community. In addition, community groups hosted performances and festivals to fundraise for a variety of community causes. School performances were successful with over 13,000 students attending performances in French and English language both onsite in the Centre’s theatres and offsite in select schools. Overall studio participation was 36,528 and slightly lower than budget but Camps and the Resident Artist Program showed record attendance, School, Specialty and Community Course programming were lower than target. We fostered relationships within the community by working with local school boards, community arts organizations, not for profit arts and education organizations, the Culture Division of the City of Mississauga, commercial promoters and artist agents, local businesses, as well as individuals. The Centre continued to deliver high quality visual and performing arts experiences for children, youth, adults and families within the Centre’s eight professionally equipped artist studios. School Workshops engaged 20,937 students and their teachers in hands on curriculum connected school workshops. Our school audience continues to be made up of 41% primary, 31% junior, 25% intermediate and 3%. The area of largest increase in programming was within our French language workshops with 80 workshops being delivered to 1,666 students. Our outreach programming this fiscal consisted of three new visual arts workshops as well as two artist in residencies. 1,229 children ages 6-16 participated in camp programming resulting in a 38% increase over the previous year. Camp programs would not have been possible without the support provided by work experience students from local high schools. 69 students from the Peel Region donated 5,077 hours to the successful operations of all camp programming. Specialty Workshops provided unique programming opportunities for the community outside of our regular programming streams. These included Birthday Parties for children; custom designed corporate workshops and specialized programming for seniors, service groups and community groups.

Community Courses continued to offer high level programming in professional studio spaces to children, youth, adults and families. We introduced our Summer Outreach project due to grant funding received from the City of Mississauga Arts & Culture program. A Summer Art Attack Program was created to bring arts experiences to underprivileged children throughout Mississauga. In total 6 locations were secured: Malton Victory Hall, Burnhamthorpe Community Centre, YMCA Peel Youth Village, Forest Ridge Apartment Complex, Peel Alternative School South, and Britannia Co-op. We also presented this program at Rib Fest and the Waterfront Festival. Exhibitions at the Centre continued to have a community focus by showcasing works by over 135 local and regional artists/artist groups from a variety of backgrounds, elementary and secondary students as well as the Centre’s Resident Artists. Seven exhibitions showcased works in a range of media including installation art, photography, painting, ceramics, textiles, glass, wood, as well as media arts. We displayed Resident Artist works at the University of Toronto Mississauga Campus and our Resident Artist exhibition was on display in the Toronto Airport exhibition space from June to December 2012. The Resident Artist Program had artists working in our studios in ceramics, painting & drawing, wood, textiles, glass and photography.. For the year 36 different resident artists worked within the Centre’s studio spaces. Residents continued to be an integral part of the Centre’s programming through their participation in exhibitions, teaching courses and community and corporate events.

We were successful with a grant application for the Ontario Dances. Project through the Ontario Arts Council providing monies to program Ontario dance companies, develop Mississauga’s dance audience as well as provide workshops within the community. Canadian Heritage continued to support LAC Presents through its Canada Arts Presentation Fund. New in 2011-2012 we received a grant from the City of Mississauga for $80,000. TD Financial Group, RBC, Pratt and Whitney Canada, Mother Parkers, Pepsi and the Hilton Garden Inn Mississauga Toronto Airport West continued to support programs and events with corporate donations. The Mississauga News was once again our print media sponsor for LAC Presents.

Supplier Sponsorship A supplier sponsorship program was initiated. Included are Affair Party Rentals, Allseas Fisheries Corporation, Ecolab, Everist Brothers and the Pearl Trading Company.

Program Initiatives Fund The fund was established to provide access to funding for programming endeavours that address key goals from the Centre’s mission statement but require financial assistance. During the 2011-2012 season we provided support from the Fund totalling $44,000 to assist programs as follows:

FINANCE The financial results for the year ended August 31, 2012 were better than budget. The excess of revenues over expenses in the unrestricted fund was $281,000 compared to a budget of $73,000. The revenue from operations was $6,885,000 compared to $6,188,000 the previous year.The amortization for the year was $1,048,000.

FUNDRAISING In fiscal 2012 we raised a total of $180,000 through corporate sponsorships and government grants.

Rob Brown

• • • • • •

Orchestras Mississauga co-production LAC School performances The Peel District School Board: Literacy & Values and Music and Drama The Peel Intermediate Music Teachers Association: Music Festival. Peel Elementary School Exhibition LAC presents Mississauga series

Much of this support was by way of subsidizing the cost of theatre rental. Historically, the Centre has reported to its Board and City Council on the results before amortization. This is because the major part of the annual amortization is related to the shortfall in the initial fundraising that was underwritten by the City and classified as leasehold improvements on our balance sheet.

The Board of Directors approved the transfer of $250,000 from operating funds to the Program Initiatives Fund as of August 31, 2012. Consequently, the balance in the Fund at August 31, 2012, increased to $884,425.

We continue to be in a strong financial position. Our working capital at August 31, 2012 was $570,000. The excellent results enabled the Board of Directors to transfer $250,000 to the Program Initiatives Fund resulting in a balance of $874,000 at August 31 2012.

LIVE RESTAURANT / SALES & CATERING Our room rentals, catering and restaurant business had a successful year in which we exceeded our revenue budget and maintained cost controls The pre show dinner and post show dessert revenues continue to be successful with good attendance. We also experienced increased use of the restaurant for breakfast meetings, cocktail receptions and dinners.

From left, Mississauga City Manager Janice Baker, Ward 8 Councillor Katie Mahoney, Past Board Chairman Ron Nisbet, Mayor Hazel McCallion, Board Chairman Chuck Ealey, Ward 3 Councillor Chris Fonseca, Ward 2 Councillor Pat Mullin, LAC CEO Ron Lenyk, Ward 4 Councillor Frank Dale and City Director of Culture Division Susan Burt display the LAC’s Mission Statement Arts for Life. The City, through its Culture division provided the LAC with a grant of $80,000 for the Outreach Program initiative.

Laszlo Buzas

Our corporate business increased over the previous year due to increased marketing efforts and support. We continue to maintain a high percentage of repeat business. This part of our business generates good revenues that support our arts activities.

For Financial Report go to www.livingartscentre.ca/index.php/who-we-are/financialreport.html

2012 ~ 2013 NEW INITIATIVES

GALA

The LAC will hold the inaugural Hazel MacCallion Arts for Life Gala in November 2012. The event will be held in support of the LAC with proceeds going to the PIF Fund and we will also celebrate 15 years of the Centre with more than five million people having experienced activity at the Centre. The evening will recognize the key visionaries who were integral in bringing the dream to life including Mayor Hazel McCallion for her leadership, Willson McTavish and Laurie Pallett for the dream, Eb Zeidler for the building design and PCL Construction forerecting the facility, Honourary Chair Bruce Heyland and founding Chair David Irwin. Entertainment will feature a number of Mississauga Artists and a silent auction of the Centre’s resident artists will be held to help generate additional proceeds

MISSISSAUGA CONCERT SERIES The AMS study conducted in 2010 indicated a desire from the community for the Centre to support more local talent. In the 2012-13 performance year, we have added a Mississauga Concert Series with four Mississauga artists. In RBC Theatre we will present Glenn Chipkar and The Swing Shift Big Band, Liberty Silver, and Johnny Max Band. In Hammerson Hall, the Mississauga Choral Society will perform with special guests the Mississauga Children’s Choir, the Longlade Dancers and guest vocalist Paula Griffith.

PATRON APPRECIATION EVENT As a result of the branding exercise, one of the initiatives that has been planned is a Patron Appreciation event that includes recognizing our patrons for their loyalty to the Centre and a celebration of our 15 year anniversary. We will recognize 5,10,15 year patrons and special recognition will be given to our six patrons who have attended an LAC event at the Centre each of the 15 years.

Vision & Mission Statement Our Vision To enrich the quality of life within Mississauga and neighbouring communities through arts and culture.

Mission Statement –ARTS

for

Life

Core Objectives The Board of Directors, staff and volunteers are dedicated to actively pursue, grow, improve and fulfill the mission and pledge to: ◆

Present high quality performing and visual artists for the enjoyment and enrichment of all ages. This will include the presentation of upcoming local and national talent.

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Enrich the community by stimulating diverse artistic and cultural development.

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Enhance community experiences by partnering and cooperating with local arts organizations.

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Provide artists a venue in which to pursue their art forms, showcase their work and teach and mentor others.

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Provide diverse educational experiences in performing and visual arts programming with particular emphasis on youth and children.

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Create and maintain a challenging, respectful and satisfying environment for staff and volunteers.

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Engage in commercial activities such as corporate rentals and catering to the extent necessary to support the Centre’s arts activities.

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Seek support for the Centre's various activities through grants, sponsorships and donations.

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Operate in a fiscally responsible manner.