AN UPDATE ON THE EMPRESS CULTURAL CENTRE PROJECT

Over the past year, the Board of Directors of the The Empress Cultural Centre Inc. has been working hard behind the scenes to advance the important project of reviving the former Cinema V building as a performing arts venue and cultural centre for Montreal's West End. The group of partners and users now involved in the initiative includes the McGill Conservatory, of the Schulich School of Music, with over 100 years of experience of bringing musical instruction to the community, and the Black Theatre Workshop, the premiere Black theatre enterprise, with 37 years of experience in bringing plays relevant to the black experience to Montreal. Teesri Duniya, a South-Asian, human rights-focused theatre troupe is also involved, as will be Repercussion Theatre, famous for its Shakespeare in the Park series across Montreal.

We have truly appreciated the enthusiasm and backing of many organizations and individuals, without whose help the project would not have survived this long, and we feel the need to let our friends and supporters know how the project is currently faring. Below are a few brief highlights, and works in progress, from the past year:

THE TAX MAN TAKES A HUGE BITE OUT OF THE EMPRESS, THEN SPITS IT OUT

Last year, as you know, the Empress Project faced a great crisis, when large retroactive property tax bills were served on us. The Empress rose to the challenge and raised $35,000 within one week, thanks to three Board members and some public-spirited citizens emptying their pockets. This action kept the building from being reposessed by the City's Tax Department.

Later, we were able to successfully plead a tax exemption case to the Municipal Commission, and most of the outstanding bills were retroactively cancelled. The Empress warmly welcomed that decision in late 2006 and, following this, the City of Montreal and Borough of CDN-NDG finally began to work, albeit modestly, with the Empress group to move the project forward. The Empress group is now awaiting a revaluation of the property, set for November, to further reduce its property tax burden from the current level of 25%, by another 10%.

PLANNING: THE BIG PICTURE

A REVISED BUSINESS PLAN

In October 2006, with the help of funding from the CDEC/CDN-NDG, the Empress completed a revised business plan, to be implemented in two stages. Stage One focused on the renovation of the tower building intended to house administrative spaces and the McGill Conservatory's teaching studios, and the creation of a bare bones main floor theatre space. The second stage concerned the completion of the downstairs theatre and the renovation of the upper theatre space, after three to five years of operation. The estimated cost was $8 million.

THE ' PLAN FONCTIONEL ET TECHNIQUE'

In the summer of 2007, at the request of the City and Borough of CDN-NDG, a consultant produced a further Plan aiming to reduce the total cost of the project from the projected $8 Million to $6 million, and to tackle the whole project in a single stage as opposed to two. As a prerequisite, the City required that all liens on the property be settled, and this was done. The new plan was then presented, as requested, to the City at the end of August. Some problems remain to be ironed out, but the Board is glad that a more cordial relationship now exists between the Borough and the Empress Cultural Centre.

MOVING FORWARD

Faced with the long incubation periods of Government projects and the fact that policy formulation is still in process, the Board has recently asked two of its members to investigate the feasibility of taking out a mortgage on the building, which will allow it to completely secure the building (including the plumbing) and to open the offices above the ground floor for rent. We believe that this can be accomplished by the spring of 2008. We are also in serious discussion with Black Theatre Workshop with respect to partnering in the development of a space meeting its future performance needs. This space would also be shared by Teesri Duniya and Repercussion Theatre (Theatre in the Park). It is anticipated that this group can be successful in getting funding from the funding agencies to support the expansion of their seasons close to their natural markets (NDG, CDN. and surrounding areas).

EVENTS AND ONGOING PROJECTS

The Empress has for the past year hosted a monthly Storytelling event on the first Tuesday of each month, comprising the first regular series in the Empress space. The Empress has also hosted AGMs of the CDEC CDN-NDG, Head and Hands, as well as other organizations, an art exhibition of the new Iraqi Cultural Centre, an NDG premier of 'What is Indie?' a documentary on the independent music scene, NDG 20/20 events organized by the NDG Community Council, a series 'Beyond Slavery' by the Quebec Board of Black Educators, and more.

FUND RAISING

In November the Empress will launch a fundraising campaign, starting with a dinner at Pasta Casareccia, at 7:00.p.m. on the evening of November 15th. The ticket price for the meal is $50. But we are asking our patrons to add $25 and multiples of it to the ticket price according to their financial ability and good will! We will also soon be selling our special Empress chocolate truffles. They can be obtained from the Empress Office, merchant friends of the Empress, and Necdet Kendir's gift shop, "Cartes etc" at 5901 Sherbrooke Street West, H4A 1X6, phone: 514 489 2625. Put your orders in now!

For more information, do not hesitate to contact us at 514-885-2846 or empresscentre@gmail.com