Thank you for that question, MP Lewis.
I would say while operating during the pandemic we've continued to bring young people who are interested in careers in the arts to both workshops and programs online. We have offered new mental health programs for artists who are experiencing challenges. Through some of the emergency recovery funding we have been able to offer them low-cost access to therapy, given some of the challenges and pressures they were facing.
We continue to work with other organizations to partner and use their space. That has reduced the cost of operating while we are under construction.
Construction costs, on the other hand, have increased due to the pandemic—things like steel, things like having fewer workers onsite, which has extended the period of construction through the pandemic. There has been a real increase in our overarching capital costs. Some of those cost savings have just been moved over to ensure that we can open the space in the fall of this year.
Really, I think our concern isn't necessarily operating during this time, but when doors open in the fall, we will have increased operating costs due to the need for tech directors and other back-of-house roles.
Those are some of the challenges we're looking to close and encourage folks to think about as we reposition and rethink about recovery and start to live in this new normal.