KAWARTHA LAKES-For the last 16 years Globus Theatre has found a home at Lakeview Arts Barn (LAB) on Pigeon Lake Road just outside of Bobcaygeon.
16 years of professional theatre for tourists and residents alike. Pandemic closures have put the barn on the chopping block and unless the money can be raised for Globus Theatre to purchase the building could be sold off and the theatre could lose its local home.
“We purchased the LAB to give Globus Theatre a space.” said LAB owner and Globus Artistic Director Sarah Quick. “It is paid for by weddings and events, it was a perfect relationship for years and years and years and then the pandemic came and it hit our bottom line.”
Quick and her husband James Barrett are the founders of Globus Theatre and the owners of LAB. Globus has since become a registered charity and the charity would own the building if the purchase can be financed.
Quick says the LAB was without events for two years and is no longer a viable separate entity.
“When we were forced to close our doors in 2020, we did not foresee ourselves cancelling two summer seasons and rescheduling shows all the way into 2022. We also did not know that our venue, the Lakeview Arts Barn, would be without events for two years.”
She says after the third lockdown they realized they could no longer afford to keep LAB.
So the theatre launched a $2 million dollar capital campaign to raise the funds needed to purchase LAB. Quick says the property was appraised at $1.8 million dollars before they put $110,000 into repairs and upkeep.
“The impact that we have had over the last two years has resonated with the community and having the security that people know it’s sticking around people can enjoy, invest and utilize it is important,” explains Quick. “Only a few theatre companies own their own building and they are more successful.”
With the $2 million, Globus Theatre would be able to purchase the Lakeview Arts Barn in its entirety, with a portion of this money going to areas that are in need of repair – such as the leaky roof according to Quick.
The “Raising The Barn” launch is spurred on by the backing of $1 million – 50% of the goal – from anonymous donors, along with over $100,000 pledged and donated from stakeholders and supporters of the theatre according to quick.
With the theatre approaching its 20th season next year, they hope that Globus Theatre will own its own building by the end of 2023.
For more information on the “Raising The Barn” capital campaign or to make a donation visit www.lakeviewartsbarn.com/raising-the-barn-capital-campaign.