The Green Thumb Theatre Company aims to sell naming rights to corporations to raise $1.3 million to convert Vancouver’s oldest schoolhouse, Carlton Hall, into a new performing arts centre focused on programming for youth.
“We do not have any corporate sponsors yet but we are offering naming opportunities at very competitive rates,” capital campaign director Kari Gunderson told Business in Vancouver March 20.
For example, Gunderson is seeking:
- $150,000 for a corporation to brand the main production hall;
- $100,000 for a corporation to brand the studio production hall; and
- $75,000 for a corporation to brand the outdoor courtyard.
“We have a 20-year renewable lease so the naming opportunity would be for the life of that 20-year period,” Gunderson said.
She said the rates are competitive because she helped secure the naming rights for the Bard on The Beach main stage for BMO Bank of Montreal last year, when she was that capital campaign’s coordinator.
The bank is paying $500,000 for that five-year commitment.
Founded in 1975, Green Thumb Theatre creates what Gunderson calls “edgy, intelligent plays for elementary and high-school students.”
Its productions of new Canadian scripts tour B.C. schools and focus on themes such as bullying, racism, substance abuse, eating disorders, homophobia, AIDS awareness, mental health and the environment.
The theatre company has $308,346 in assets, $110,560 in liabilities, according to its last financial statement, dated June 30, 2011.
Its revenue in its last fiscal year was $969,517, or $45,588 more than its $925,929 in expenses.
@GlenKorstrom
