Almost four months after launching the campaign, the Highland Arts Theatre is thrilled to announce they have reached 100% of their initial Radical Access fundraising campaign for 2020!

When public health restrictions closed their doors in March, the HAT was immediately thrust into a dire reality. With no operating funding from any level of government, this popular downtown venue relied on ticket sales for more than 80% of their revenue and was facing bankruptcy by the end of August.

Even when restrictions were lifted to allow limited audiences, there was no way that ticket sales alone would be able to pay for expensive performances and operational expenses. That’s when Radical Access was born.

“We wanted to advance into the future with something truly revolutionary,” said HAT Artistic & Executive Director, Wesley J. Colford (Colford uses “they/them” pronouns). “We could either go back to a lesser version of a broken system, or we could do something radical and try to change the world.”

The HAT’s plan calls for ongoing monthly donations from local supporters in exchange for tax-deductible charitable receipts. As monthly pledge goals were met, the HAT has committed to various community projects. Things like: youth scholarships for arts education, audio drama podcasts, a $10,000 commission for a BIPOC artist, free live-streaming and ASL interpretation, and more.

The big prize at the final goal, however, was the offering of all 12 Mainstage HAT productions to the entire community free of charge. No more ticket prices. Radical Access.

As the campaign reached its target, the HAT has already been able to offer three Mainstage productions as an “experiment”, including Daniel MacIvor’s famed solo show House and the debut of a new play by local playwright Lindsay Thompson, which closed on Sunday.

Now that the campaign has reached 100%, however, the HAT can officially commit to nine more Mainstage productions free of charge – including the next Mainstage production which opens on November 3^rd, Billy Bishop Goes to War.

“It’s an extraordinary thing,” says Colford. “Five months ago we fully expected to be boarding up our doors. Now, thanks to the support of the entire community, we now know we’ll be able to survive at least to next July.”

Colford made clear that 100% of their goal is still less than half of their annual budget. “Last year our expenses were $1.2 million. This year, in January, we had an approved budget of $1.6 million. Theatre is an extraordinarily expensive endeavour, but at least for now we have the bare minimum we need to survive.”

While new COVID-19 cases are rising all over Canada, this homegrown theatre has found a way to continue to let audiences enjoy live performances from distances of 6 feet.

“We’re just so lucky not to have had new cases in Cape Breton since June.” says Colford. “Whatever the future holds, we’ll be here. We cannot thank the community enough.”

For full information on #RadicalAccess fundraising goals, as well as information on how to book free tickets for Billy Bishop, visit the HAT website at: www.highlandartstheatre.com

MORE INFORMATION

Wesley J. Colford

Phone: (902) 565-5970

Email: [email protected]