Portage la Prairie’s Prairie Fusion Arts and Entertainment is still working to recover from the impact of COVID-19 and the restrictions placed on their programming. Executive Director Lorna Knight says the centre holds significant value in the community, and they don't want to see that disappear.
In efforts to bring new events and programs to Portage, they are aiming to make their offerings more original, inclusive, and accessible. Knight says everyone should be able to attend shows, participate in programs, and enjoy fun events.
She notes the city owns the building and does provide funding for operations. However, the space isn’t free. Knight explains that hydro is a significant yearly expense, and there isn’t a grant available to cover that alone.
"It may lead to a definite change in operations if the centre doesn’t see more support. We are experiencing a time where our financial inflow, from grants, ticket sales, and program registrations, is at a low. Unfortunately, as everyone knows, costs are rising for everything, and our operational expenses are no exception. Our hydro has gone up. Everything we normally pay to keep the building open, operational, and safe for everyone has increased, but our grant funding and income have not kept up."
Knight says they’ve reached a point where there is a gap between their revenue and their expenses, which has led them to ask the public and the community for help.
"It can be something as simple as signing up for a class or buying a ticket for one of our Signature events. Signature events are crucial because the money raised goes directly to us, unlike events where we host for a third party and only receive rental fees. The number of tickets sold for third-party events doesn’t make a substantial difference to our bottom line."
Among the Signature events is a concert by the Northern Pikes this month. There's also a wine-tasting evening and a Family Fall Dance this week where people can buy tickets and attend.
"Even a small contribution helps because we need the community’s support to continue doing what we love. One challenge we’ve faced post-COVID is the drop in audience numbers compared to pre-pandemic times, which is understandable. People have found new activities to replace attending shows, events, and pottery classes, and that’s great."
Knight says they are working to introduce new events that haven’t been offered for some time. Wine tasting has returned for the first time since before COVID, and they’ve launched season passes. New events, like Cuisine and Comedy, are also planned for next month.
"Maybe people will change their habits and embrace these new events we’re excited about. It really comes back to supporting our arts programs. We use revenue from various parts of the building to sustain and support our children’s and youth programming. To put it into perspective, we haven’t raised the cost of our classes in three years, which is pretty rare. Anyone with a child in activities knows those prices usually increase, but we’ve kept ours the same to remain accessible."
Knight stresses the importance of keeping prices low so children and youth can participate in the arts. To maintain affordability, they rely on revenue from performances and ticket sales.
"We also benefit from sponsorships, like when someone sponsors a pottery class session. These are all ways we’re able to keep offering programs at the same price as before. We’d love to continue doing this because we recognize the value."
She adds they appreciate donations that can be directed toward specific areas, whether it’s child programming or the Glesby Centre.
"Direct your donation to where your heart lies when it comes to our Centre and the activities we offer. Everything we have here is open to the public. We have a free gallery where people can view beautiful artwork at any time. We work hard to collaborate with different organizations to provide a variety of programs, supporting what they’re doing. The 150 Women Who Care group, for example, is a fantastic initiative."
Knight says they support that women’s group by offering affordable rental rates, ensuring more of their funds go back into the community.
"So, we really try to partner with the community, and now we’re asking for their help because we’ve reached a point where we desperately need it."
Watch the video to learn more about the gem that is Prairie Fusion Arts and Entertainment.