Moe McGuinty, manager of the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts, told members of North Battleford city council last week that the centre anticipates a surplus again this year.
In presenting the Dekker Centre's audited annual statement for 2015 to city council, McGuinty said revenue was down 13 per cent, but they kept their expenses down by nine per cent.
"The end result is on a cash flow basis we lost about $8,000," he said. "We have a surplus from the year before, so we had a continued surplus this year of $15,000 going into 2016."
He said they've had a close look at the six-month mark of the 2016 budget.
"We're better than we thought we would be going into our second half and anticipate a surplus again in 2016," said McGuinty, who was accompanied at the meeting by board chair Karen Ulmer.
In 2015, he said, the Dekker Centre grossed slightly more than $600,000. However he said, that number doesn't include catering revenue of approximately $150,000.
Compared to 2014, the gross was down by about $90,000. But, he explained, in 2014 the centre presented more shows than in 2015.
"We did 22 shows and we lost money," said McGuinty. "So we corrected that and last year just did 16 shows, and we made money, so we think the balance is getting a little closer."
It's telling to look at the ticket fees, he said.
"It shows that 22 shows didn't sell many more tickets than 16 shows."
Another reason the gross is down, he said, is a decrease in beverage revenue, which was down about 30 per cent. It was down partly due to a few high beverage income events held in 2014, one that made $6,000 liquor revenue, that didn't occur in 2015.
In addition, anecdotally and with no disrespect, he said, "We think our audience is maturing a little bit."
He laughed, "When we first opened, people would come in and say, hey it's the Dekker Centre, it's a show and, boom, they'd have a couple of quick drinks, then come out at the intermission, boom, have another one. Doesn't happen anymore."
The largest revenue amounts for 2015 were a $220,000 grant from the City, $179,239 in event sales, and $100,329 in rent.
The largest expense amounts were event costs of $178,700, wages and benefits of $178,316 and utilities of $83,844.
The Dekker Centre collects a facility maintenance fee on each ticket sold, with approximately half going to the City of North Battleford, amounting to about $19,000 for 2015.
McGuinty also touched on some highlights of 2015 events, other than the shows booked by Dekker Centre administration, as evidence of how the centre is interacting with the community and community groups.
Some of the organizations that have used the Dekker Centre, he said, are Battlefords Interval House, the Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival (which used the centre for their gala for the first time in 2015), Battlefords Dance Association (week-long dance festival), Svoboda Dance Association, Battlefords Community Players, North Battleford City Kinsmen Band, Battlefords Jazz Society, Battlefords Children's Choirs, the Gallery Singers, 4-H and the BEATS program.
The Dekker Centre also hosted the Battlefords Union Hospital Foundation Festival of Trees, the Chamber of Commerce BBEX Awards, the BID gala dinner, Champion of Mental Health Awards and more.
He noted 2015 saw the East Indian Dance association present an evening of Indian dancing, which will be presented again this year Sept. 11.
"It was one of the most fun, neatest evenings you could imagine," said McGuinty, "and they fed you!"
He added, "That's what the Dekker Centre's for and it seems to be gaining a little bit every year."
He also told council members the Dekker Centre is now in the "enviable position, within some limits and some discretion," to provide complimentary tickets to local groups as a way of assisting them in fundraising. In 2015 they donated tickets to such groups as the Battlefords Agricultural Society, the BTEC campaign for a new building, the United Way, the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce, the Battlefords Boys and Girls Club, CUPE and the Rotary Club of the Battlefords.
In addition to presenting the 2015 audited statement, McGuinty said, "For the record, from the Dekker Centre's perspective, this meeting constitutes our annual general meeting in that you are the member – our one member."
