Several theaters in Quebec are currently in deficit, large institutions and historical theaters included. Several are close to untenable financial limits, but not all for the same reasons. What’s going on? First text in a series to try to answer this question.
Founded 60 years ago, the Denise-Pelletier theater (TDP) is the only one in Quebec to devote itself to the adolescent public. He is in deficit. A reason? Some 23 % of its budget is devoted to its building. Built in 1928, the beautiful and old cinema Granada with curtains and red benches, where gîte the theater, costs a small fortune. “If the funding does not change for us, we will have to ask ourselves serious questions,” admits his director general, Stéphanie Laurin. “It smells like heated, already. I don’t see any way. »»
In 2022, the Denise-Pelletier theater released surplus of $ 333,000 on a budget of 3.8 to 4 million dollars, could see The duty by consulting public data. In 2023, his budget balance was $ 325,766; In 2024, -362 816 $.
What explains the passage of this cushion to this hole? “The pandemic,” replies Stéphanie Laurin. “This period of interruption of artistic production, with the maintenance of financing to operation, has generated cumulative surplus”, which are now exhausted.
And, since then, significant inflation, the increase in all costs, the few years necessary to repatriate the public in theaters and the responsibility of a building of heritage interest have “created a perfect storm for the Denise-Pelletier theater”, estimates Mme Laurin.
“There is a mathematical gap that is growing more and more. Our maintenance costs increase, fixed costs cost more, including insurance. We have not had an increase in our operating budgets of the Quebec Arts and Letters Council [CALQ] Since 2017. “
If the funding does not change for us, we will have to ask serious questions.
And to carry out its mission to reach adolescents, the Denise-Pelletier theater puts on the meeting between the general and school public. However, this student audience needs economic prices to continue to flock: he is made to the ticket at $ 25. “Even when a show Playing “full”, it is rare that we cover the production costs of the show, ”explains the director.
And this audience of school benches is not yet fully back to the room seats. “last year, he had 55 %. Before the COVID, he reached 66 %. »A habit of school outings was lost during the pandemic, analyzes Mme Laurin, and “a new generation of teachers arrives, with whom we need to reconnect”.
Youth culture, culture of the place
The Denise-Pelletier theater occupies a rich room built in 1928. On the walls, figures of Dionysos and Satyrs, patterns of scallops and grape clusters. When it was a cinema, the room had been decorated by Emmanuel Briffa, who was inspired by a Spanish court. Some areas are of heritage interests. “The building will be 100 years old in 2028. It’s old. »»
The latest renovations in 2008-2009 were carried out at the preinflation cost of $ 10.9 million.
-“Last year, the external facade threatened to crumble,” said the director. “The work was done in an emergency: $ 175,000. We want to maintain our creation budgets. This is our mission. But how can we do it? By making deficits … “
As the theater, the establishment “is assessed for its state financing only on [le plan] artistic ”, by peers of the arts of the scene. “But we must also make sure that the ventilation is good, that the roof does not fall on the heads of the spectators!” Exclaims Stéphanie Laurin. “It seems to me that one cannot assess in the same way a theatrical season built by [le directeur artistique et metteur en scène] Claude Poissant and the walls of a historic cinema… ”
The current system means that the Denise-Pelletier theater “has no specific money to maintain the place-magnificent, historic-, which is a real cultural legacy for the population and for the neighborhood,” she says
What are the real estate emergencies? Make upgrades to standards for certain installations. “We have obsolete equipment, risks of water infiltration. You have to redo the floor of the Fred-Barry room ”, badly leveled, fairly hooked, with in places up to a meter of elevation. The use of the articulated nacelle (the “ Genie lift ) To hang and pick up the lighting lamps has become risky. “There is the safety of our technicians. We are looking for temporary solutions, but even putting self -employed concrete would involve redoing the foundations because of the underground water table. »»
The granting of two separate budgets-one to ensure the maintenance of the historic street gable, the other for the artistic mission-could be a solution? ” Yes ! Exclaims Stéphanie Laurin. “The place must be evaluated, judged and funded outside the creations that are made. And vice versa, she thinks.
Red curtain and ink
At the Denise-Pelletier theater, Grosso Modo, 64 % of the budget passes in the productions (including artists’ fees, as well as the costs of creation and communication). Some 22.6 % are intended instead, and 11.4 % go to administration and workforce. Finally, 2 % go into private financing costs – last year, the theater increased to 6 % the share of its budget provided by philanthropy.
“These ratios can vary slightly from year to year, depending on productions, building emergencies. There are quite a few nuances to bring to have an annual portrait, ”says Mr.me Laurin, who still reveals these figures in the hope of contributing to the conversation on the financing of the arts.
What solutions, for the Denise-Pelletier theater? “Personally, I believe in the commitment of the State for the good of the cultural health of a society. The state can play a promising role, like what Europe has done in recent years. Culture remains a tiny part of the total budget. Philanthropy and private financing are not total solutions. »»
“I am sorry that we were frozen with the Calq operation. Our social mission needs financial support to incarnate, to realize itself, ”says the director.
Recall that the CALQ is determining where it will lay the additional sums granted to it by the government during the last budget, bringing its credits to $ 200 million, amount requested by the arts of the arts. Will funds go more to individual institutions or artists? The question remains to be resolved.
A previous version of this text, which quantified the total budget for the Denise-Pelletier theater in 2022 between 38 to 40 million dollars, was corrected.
