| • What is Creamery Square? Creamery Square is an historic waterfront development site located on Creamery Road, in the village of Tatamagouche, adjacent to Tatamagouche Bay and the Trans-Canada Trail. The goal of this community project is to establish Tatamagouche as a truly dynamic destination on the North Shore by offering a unique combination of exciting and interactive visitor activities. It features the Tatamagouche Farmers’ Market, award winning Creamery Square Heritage Centre and soon, the Centre for the Arts. • What
is the CSA?
The Creamery Square Association is the governing body for Creamery Square consisting of a dedicated volunteer board of directors. • What is the role/responsibility of the CSA? The CSA looks after the day-to-day operation of the Creamery Square site. This includes the coordination of events on the site, fund raising, promotion, programming, site maintenance, and eventually the management of the Centre for the Arts (also known as the Performing Arts Centre). In 2005 the CSA entered into an agreement for Project and Construction Management Services with a recommended consultant, referred to as the Project Manager. • What is
the role/responsibility of the project office?
It is the responsibility of the project manager and the project office to develop the Creamery Square facility and advise the Creamery Square Board. This includes conceptual designs for buildings, providing budget expectations for construction, preparing grant applications, acquiring the necessary funding to build the component structures, site preparations and improvements during construction, utilities, coordinating professional personnel such as acoustic engineers, management of construction staff, management of the Creamery Square office. In many cases, the project office is the visitor’s first Creamery Square contact. • Why has the name changed from Performing Arts to Centre for the Arts?
The facility has always been referred to as a “multi-purpose Performing Arts Facility”. In recognition that the intention is to promote and celebrate all of the arts including music, theatre, dance, recording arts and visual arts, the modern and inclusive reference is now “The Centre for the Arts.” • Is there sufficient
interest in having an arts centre in Tatamagouche?
Tatamagouche has a rich association with the arts. The Nova Scotia Festival of the Arts was founded in Tatamagouche and attracted thousands of visitors annually until 1967 when, because of its success in Tatamagouche it was moved to a larger location. Annual dramatic music productions of Dr. Betty Murray highlighted local talent and enthusiasm for the performing arts. • Are there groups/individuals interested in using a new facility to make it a worthwhile community
investment?
Tatamagouche seems to be blessed with a significant population of people interested in culture and the arts. Existing groups like the Tatamagouche Area Singers and North Shore Performing Arts Society, who now perform in Tatamagouche, will have access to a professional level, purpose built facility. • What will the Centre for the Arts be used for?
Concerts, festivals, rentals, conventions, receptions, workshops, and more. The ever growing artistic population in the Tatamagouche area is escalating the scope and variety of arts being offered, while the rise in our overall population increases the demand for a flexible venue for larger festivals and performances from both local and visiting organizations. Contacts have already been made with The Ship’s Company Theatre, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and others to bring provincial and even national level entertainment to the North Shore area. • Will the Centre for the Arts be competing with existing local venues and/or organizations?
The CSA has been working
to form partnerships with local organizations. In some instances, these organizations have already moved to Creamery Square,
into custom designed and built accommodation. The aim of the Centre for the Arts is to provide a professional level venue, for
local organizations to use, while attracting the kind of entertainments enjoyed by audiences in Truro, Pictou, Halifax and beyond.
• Why
is construction taking so long?
The size and scope of the entire Creamery Square project is huge. Each stage, or phase, has to be carefully and thoroughly planned, with consultations from many bodies. The fundraising for each stage is very complex. Every funding delay impedes the progress of the project. • To date how have the capital construction costs been funded?
Creamery Square has many funding partners including these government contributors: The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), The Department of Canadian Heritage, Service Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, The Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, Nova Scotia Economic and Rural Development, Service Nova Scotia, Access Nova Scotia, Employment Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Economic Development Fund, Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Agri-Futures Nova Scotia, The Colchester Regional Development Agency (CoRDA), The Municipality of the County of Colchester. • Have corporate funders/sponsors been identified?
Our corporate fundraising committee has been successful in securing funding from both corporate and local/regional individual sponsorship. Several naming opportunities still exist for sponsors who wish to support capital fundraising at Creamery Square • How will the Centre for the Arts be
funded on an ongoing basis?
Ticket sales, sponsorships, bar sales, memberships, annual fund raising campaign, special events, NS operating grant, municipal grant, other grants, wage subsidy grants, rental income, and youth programs. • How will the facility and Creamery Square be managed when the project is completed? Our advisors insist on the hiring of a manager of all Creamery Square operations who might have an administrative assistant. The governance of the performing arts facility would be undertaken by the Creamery Square Board of Directors. The Centre for the Arts already has an advisory board in place, a number of experienced and knowledgeable local people who are consulted on a regular basis for their input on the design’s progress. • When will the construction commence
on The Centre for the Arts?
The Ice House lobby is already in place. We expect to break ground on the main building in late summer 2011. • What is the function of the “Ice House?”
The Ice House is located as a lobby for the Centre for the Arts. Between the Ice House and the auditorium, there will be a transition area entirely of new construction. The Ice House can function as a smaller performance venue, art gallery, rental space, and intermission facility. This smaller venue will function as the licensed foyer for events, close to a modest food preparation area, and has been designed with a seating capacity of up to 40. • Where is the
advice coming from for this part of project?
The development of the Centre for the Arts is influenced by the detailed feasibility report from Arts Management Consultant, Bruce Klinger. Within the report, technical considerations have been detailed by Robin Creelman, one of the province’s pre-eminent experts on performing arts technical issues. Mr. Creelman’s report covers equipment issues and other technical considerations that should be addressed in the construction of the building. There is also a strong Arts Advisory Council in place which includes playwrights, sound technicians and performers. • Will the proposed new facility provide functional
ability not currently available to the community?
A review of facilities currently used for performances in Tatamagouche shows that, while there are a number of spaces with some performance capabilities there are none that provide all that a proper performing arts facility would normally provide. These facilities would include barrier-free access, comfortable seating that can be configured flexibly with a capacity of 160, professional sound, lighting and recording capabilities, on-stage equipment for scenery, back stage areas including storage for props and scenery, a second floor rehearsal room, dressing room, and washroom facilities. • How
much will the Centre for the Arts cost?
The budget estimate at present is $1.6 million. This includes materials and labour, landscaping, outdoor stage facilities, forecourts, site servicing of power, water, sewerage, professional fees for architects, engineers, specialized equipment including lighting, audio, communications, acoustic controls & furniture, and office admin and marketing. • Are
there additional costs unrelated to the actual construction of the Centre for the Arts?
Apart from the budgeted construction costs, there have been associated costs for land acquisition for the Centre for the Arts footprint. An archaeological survey was also required for this. Other hidden costs include feasibility studies, permits, consultant fees, insurance, and utilities. • How can
I contact Creamery Square?
Office: 225 Main Street, Tatamagouche, Phone: 902-657-3500 Email: creamerysquare@ns.aliantzinc.ca Website: www.creamerysquare.ca Creamery Square Association: president@creamerysquare.ca facebook: www.facebook.com and search Creamery Square |