The ECHO Players need help to pay for their mural project, which they plan to unveil for Canada’s 150th anniversary on July 1.
The project involves the creation and installation of a 19 m-by-5 m mural on the exterior west wall of the Village Theatre, a landmark heritage building in Qualicum Beach.
Once the artwork, which depicts both past and present plays as well as the local actors who played in them, is up on the wall, it will be visible in the downtown area. It is ECHO Players’ contribution to Canada’s sesquicentennial celebrations.
Well-known professional artist David Goatley, whose work includes a mural painting at the post office in Chemainus, has been commissioned to do the mural. He is known for his portrait paintings.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $60,000. More than half of the funds will go toward covering the artist’s fees totalling $37,000, which is the biggest expense of the project.
ECHO Players have already raised around $32,000 that includes $4,500 funding from the Regional District of Nanaimo’s (RDN) Grant-in-Aid Program. The theatre company has approached other grant agencies but has not been successful. It has also turned to individuals for small donations.
Last week the Qualicum Beach-based group applied to the Northern Community Economic Development Program (NCEDP) for funding consideration. It requested $18,900 to help cover 50 per cent of the $37,000 production costs.
Director Jim Windsor said it will significantly help ECHO Players if their application is successful. However, they are also competing with five other applicants.
“Every little bit helps,” said Windsor. “We are not really expecting to get as much as we asked for but whatever assistance the regional district gives us to help the project along, we will be grateful. It’s not a make-or-break thing for us.”
Windsor informed the NCEDP that the mural project will be the first of its kind. They believe it will enhance tourism in the region, support local businesses and also increase awareness about the arts. They are hoping that other businesses in town will follow suit and get bare, boring walls painted with art.
“We are sort of taking a page out of Chemainus, I guess,” said Windsor. Chemainus is known for its outdoor murals.
ECHO Players is a non-profit volunteer theatre company. It generates revenue through the plays it presents each year as well as rental incomes for the use of the theatre, and donations. It has about 230 members. Membership is $15 per year. It doesn’t have any paid staff.
The group is also preparing to deal with some major capital issues that include replacement of the roof of the 70-year-old heritage building. The roof project is expected to cost approximately $25,000, and acquiring a new ventilation system due the failing heat pump on the roof, Windsor said, could cost $30,000 to $40,000. Windsor said they are going to continue to go after grants and funding sources to help address these pressing capital issues.
For more information on the project and fundraiser, go to echoplayers.ca/af.php.