Group or organization would take on the job of managing revitalized building Posted By ANN LUKITS, WHIG-STANDARD STAFF WRITER
After weeks of almost non-stop bad news about the economy, an unlikely sector of Kingston - the city's arts and culture community - is about to get a boost.
As the committee involved in reshaping and restocking the historic J. K. Tett building on King Street West prepares to call for prospective tenants, there's a solid job prospect for an organization that not only pursues artistic goals but has a penchant - pardon the pun - for running the show as well.
The committee is looking for a group or organization interested in taking on the job of managing the revitalized Tett.
"One of the things we're really looking for is to get the right group of people in there and get some really collaborative activities going on and make it into a creative centre for the community," said Brian McCurdy, cultural director of the newly renovated Grand Theatre.
"We'll be looking for an organization to take the lead on stimulating this collaborative [venture]. We don't want a bunch of organizations in there that don't talk to one another."
McCurdy said the job is more than just being a landlord.
"We're hoping that maybe one of the arts organizations will also look at this and say 'this is maybe an opportunity for us to grow as well,' " he said.
The call for tenants to fill the Tett is a significant step in a project that has often seemed overwhelmed by the enormity of the renovation plans. The fact that Queen's University is developing the adjacent tract of land into a new performing arts centre has added to the complexity - and excitement - of the Tett overhaul.
"In the public mind, it's really dragged out," admits Jan Allen, vice-chair of the arts advisory committee spearheading the search for tenants.
"It's been really hard, as well, for arts groups that have been involved over the last couple of years."
Only four groups have use the Tett during this period of uncertainty - Kingston School of Dance, Kingston Potters Guild, Kingston Lapidary and Mineral Club and Kingston Handloom Weavers and Spinners.
Many more vacated the premises and found new homes, often with some difficulty. The volunteer committee of the Kingston Symphony Association, for example, now holds its annual nearly new, vinyl records and used book sales in rented space at the Frontenac Mall, but can be bumped at any time by a more permanent tenant.
Allen said the two years since Artscape Inc. released a feasibility study and preliminary business model for the new Tett have been marked by intensive behind-the-scenes planning and discussions. The call for tenants was presented to the city's arts, recreation and community policies committee last Thursday by the advisory committee chairman, Brian Osborne.
"Having heard the commentary," he said, "we're now going to fine-tune the application."
"There's a priority to move forward as quickly as possible with the process."
In addition to finding tenants and a landlord, the committee is looking for a "program provider" that offers regular or temporary programming but doesn't operate full time from the Tett. Applicants will be evaluated according to their vision, leadership potential and financial stability.
The committee has already heard from about 17 groups who are interested in becoming tenants at the Tett but they must now submit formal applications and submit to an interview.
"There's been a lot of interest in gallery space," McCurdy notes.
Cynthia Beach, the city's commissioner of sustainability and growth, said that once the number of tenants and their space needs are determined, the finishing touches will be made to the building's internal and external design.
She said the city is working closely with Queen's on funding applications and other details.
Bob Silverman, who chairs the building committee for the new performing arts centre, said architects and theatre designers are working on schematic drawings for the first phase of the development, but it will be some time before there is an actual building to show people.
The initial phase includes a 560-seat concert hall, studio theatre, screening room and small art gallery. In the second phase, the university's creative arts departments - music, art, drama, film and media studies - will be moved from their current locations on campus to a building on the site.
The catalyst for the Queen's project was a $14-million gift from Isabel and Alfred Bader.
