Good morning, Madam Chair and members of the committee.
My name is Kelly Straughan, and I am the executive director of Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton, Ontario.
For 53 years, Theatre Aquarius has been a cornerstone of Hamilton's arts community. We are the only professional theatre in the city. We own our building, which includes a 702-seat mainstage theatre, a 120-seat studio space, a carpentry shop, a rehearsal hall and a beautiful lobby space. We produce five main-stage shows each season, as well as three studio productions. We employ more than 300 people each year, from artists, directors and designers to production personnel.
We are deeply committed to supporting Canadian artists. In the last five years alone, 22 of the 29 productions on our mainstage were written by Canadians and featured Canadian casts and creative teams.
Theatre Aquarius is also home to the national centre for new musicals, a program dedicated to the development of new Canadian musicals. Since its launch in 2023, we have supported eight new musicals, with more than a quarter of a million dollars in funding. Our commitment to new musicals also extends to our mainstage, including our recent production of It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken, featuring the music of The Tragically Hip.
Within our community, we are one of the primary supporters of local artists through programs such as our Brave New Works festival, which supports development of new Canadian plays; Biindigan, our indigenous mentorship program; our artist residency program, offering free rehearsal and performance space; our apprentice program, dedicated to supporting IBPOC and female-identifying individuals pursuing careers in technical theatre and production; and our theatre school and summer camps, which engage more than 500 children and youth each year.
Truly, I could go on and on. This is only the tip of the iceberg. The work happening in our theatre extends far beyond what most people see on stage.
While our ambitions continue to grow, the reality of operating our building comes with significant capital pressures. I come to you today as a voice for those of us with venues to make sure we are a part of the conversation.
For example, Aquarius recently undertook a $600,000 roof restoration project to keep the building operational after rain began leaking onto the stage and into our costume storage areas. We also need to replace theatre seating that is more than 30 years old, and we need to install a new elevator. Every year expenses grow, and we cannot raise ticket prices to match the increase. It would make coming to the theatre unaffordable for most people.
The Canada cultural spaces fund provides a valuable support for specialized equipment, but where can arts organizations turn for assistance with essential building repairs and capital needs? Across the country, many arts organizations are operating in aging facilities that require significant investment simply to remain functional. Every dollar spent repairing a roof is a dollar that cannot be invested in artistic programming. For theatres that own and operate their venues, this is an ongoing and difficult reality that directly affects our ability to fulfill our cultural mandate.
What can be done to help theatres across Canada?
Well, I encourage this committee to seriously consider the live performing arts accelerator, a labour tax credit modelled after successful film and television incentives. This credit would offer a 25% tax rebate on production-related labour expenses.
I know this idea is not new to you. The performing arts sector has been advocating for the implementation of this credit for several years. It would be a game-changer for our industry, allowing us to invest more in productions, employ more people and alleviate some of the financial pressures faced by theatres like Aquarius.
It is also worth pointing out that theatre buildings and all the activities held within their walls animate downtowns, create employment and support tourism. We are economic drivers. Last year, approximately 125,000 people attended more than 265 performances at Theatre Aquarius. A full theatre means thriving downtowns. For example, our recent production of the Tragically Hip musical generated an estimated $6 million in economic impact.
The value of the arts is undeniable. The future of Canadian culture depends not only on the artists but also on the spaces that make artistic creation possible. Without support, we risk losing the very foundations that allow Canadian stories to be created and experienced.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak today on behalf of Theatre Aquarius.