Depending on the outcome of a grant application, the Drayton Festival Theatre could be getting a much-needed facelift.
Mapleton council last week approved a resolution supporting an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant application for $150,000 worth of capital improvements to the Wellington Street building, which was erected in 1902.
The property is owned by the township.
Mayor John Green said he met recently with Bill Creighton, Chief Operating Officer of Drayton Entertainment, and a representative from Melloul-Blamey Construction to discuss the work to be done.
When asked about a timeline for the repairs, Green replied it will be a couple of months before anything is started.
“Nothing will happen until the fall, after the season’s over,” he said, noting the work is dependent upon the Trillium grant.
About half the cost of the capital improvements – $76,000 – is for brick re-pointing on 20 per cent of the building’s exterior surface, which Green said is the “biggest concern” for the township.
Another $51,000 is planned to address several accessibility deficiencies, including:
– $38,500 to re-design the entrance, which includes the demolition of the current ramp and installation of a wider, less steep ramp; sidewalk replacement around the ramp (this may be funded by the municipality as part of the downtown revitalization project); and increasing the turning radius just inside the front door;
– $4,000 for additional exterior lighting, particularly to assist those with physical disabilities and visual impairments;
– $3,500 for a new door and hardware, including a power door mechanism;
– $3,000 for a new custom-fitted handrail for the new wheelchair ramp; and
– $2,000 for installing a new canopy over the entrance used by those with disabilities.
Last year an 84-page audit report on public buildings in Mapleton Township revealed there is considerable work to be done in the municipality to meet new accessibility requirements being developed by Wellington County’s joint accessibility and advisory committee. And due to its age, the theatre was atop the list of buildings requiring upgrades.
The remaining $23,000 of the grant application includes:
– $8,500 to seal the exterior wall of the theatre by the wardrobe and emergency exit areas;
– $6,000 to expand the concrete walkway to accommodate a lift system;
– $5,000 to paint the exterior wood trim finishes;
– $2,500 for replacing the windows around the stage area on the second level; and
– $1,000 to repair eaves troughs and down spouts.
Council unanimously approved a resolution supporting the grant application.
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The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the provincial government which distributes funding to charities and not-for-profits through its community and province-wide grant programs.
The theatre capital improvements would qualify for a grant under the arts and culture segment of the community program, which is for activities that take place in one catchment area and have a local impact in one or more communities.
Community grants account for 80% of the Trillium Foundation’s funding.
Through the community program, the foundation makes grants of up to $375,000 over five years.
That can include up to $75,000 per year for operating or project expenses and up to $150,000 over one or more years for capital initiatives such as building renovations or equipment purchases.
The decision to fund all or part of a request depends on how well an application fits with the foundation’s granting priorities and assessment criteria, as well as the overall demand and granting budget in the catchment area.
