Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
General material designation
Parallel title
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Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
Level of description
Repository
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1980-2007 (Creation)
- Creator
- Richmond Gateway Theatre
Physical description area
Physical description
9 m of textual records
ca. 50 photographs
ca. 10 audiocassettes
2 videocassettes
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
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Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Administrative history
Planning for the Richmond Gateway Theatre began in the 1970s with a study commissioned by the Community Arts Council to examine the feasibility of a central performing arts facility in Richmond. The findings in favour of such a facility were submitted to City Council and in 1980 the Department of Leisure under the Parks and Recreation Commission ordered a study to examine various development strategies for a theatre in terms of type and location. A 'booking theatre' facility with equal use by touring companies and community based groups was recommended and after further study the site at 6500 Gilbert Road was chosen. A referendum vote in 1981 authorized by a slim margin the withdrawal of 3.5 m. from municipal reserves to help fund the project. The Parks and Recreation Commission then appointed a Theatre Steering Committee to oversee construction and advise on management of the theatre. This Committee was made up of members from various interested groups: Leisure Services, the Community Arts Council, the School District, performing arts groups, the business community and the general public. Some months later the Steering Committee determined that fund-raising objectives would be best met through the formation of a society for general theatre management and the Richmond Gateway Theatre Society was incorporated in September of 1982, as excavation and construction of the facility began. Noting that the mandate and membership of the Theatre Society essentially overlapped with that of the Steering Committee the Parks and Recreation Commission soon after moved to disband the Steering Committee. Fund raising efforts proceeded over the next year through membership drives, a seat endowment campaign and special community events, and contributions from the general public, from the business community and from all levels of government. The Richmond Gateway Theatre opened officially on September 29th, 1984 with a Gala performance commencing a week of celebrations. Since that time it has presented productions from a variety of the performance art disciplines, with bookings balanced between professional and amateur groups and special rates making the facilities more available for use by non-profit organizations and local community performing groups.
Custodial history
Scope and content
Fonds includes administrative records relating to the establishment and management of the theatre, operational records relating to fiscal and contractual arrangements with various groups booking theatre facilities, promotional records relating to services provided by Gateway staff for the publicizing and advertising of various productions, and records relating to a newsletter distributed to members of the Gateway Theatre Society. Arranged in eleven series: 1. Administration series, 1982-1986; 2. Operational series, 1984-1986; 3. Promotional series, 1982-1987; 4. Newsletter series, 1984-1990; 5. General Administration series, 1980-1991; 6. Theatre Governance series, 1985-1990; 7. Municipal Relations, 1985-1990; 8. Marketing and Promotion series, 1985-1990; 9. Programming series, 1986-1990; 10. Financial series, 1984-1990; 11. Community Relations series, 1984-1990.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Series descriptions and file list available.
Associated materials
See the Richmond Gateway Theatre Society fonds for related material.
Accruals
No additonal accruals will be added to the Richmond Gateway Theatre Society fonds as it is impossible to distinguish between records created by the theater and the society.
Alpha-numeric designations
BCAUL control number: CRICH-35
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Richmond Gateway Theatre (Subject)
- Community Arts Council of Richmond (Subject)