Agenda Item: 9
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: April 26, 2022
SUBJECT: NEWHALL FAMILY THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
AGREEMENT
DEPARTMENT: Recreation and Community Services
PRESENTER: Phil Lantis
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council approve and authorize the City Manager or designee to execute a three-year agreement with the Newhall School District for an amount not to exceed to $75,000 for the Newhall Family Theatre for the Performing Arts, from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025, subject to City Attorney approval.
BACKGROUND
In 1994, after the Northridge Earthquake, a group of parents toured the Newhall Elementary School campus to determine what had been damaged. During the tour, parents were led through the school’s auditorium, which had been closed to the public since the 1970s. After seeing the auditorium, the parents decided that it needed to be restored into an arts venue for the community. After almost 24 years of effort by multiple individuals and nonprofit organizations, the restoration of the auditorium was completed in late 2017, and was named the Newhall Family Theatre for the Performing Arts. The Newhall School District (District) was able to achieve this by having the support of the community, who voted to include the restoration project as part of a bond measure.
In the City of Santa Clarita Arts Master Plan, which was adopted by the City Council in March 2016, Recommendation 2.1 states:
“The City should explore taking management of the renovated Newhall Elementary School auditorium and actively program it.”
In meetings between City of Santa Clarita (City) and District staff, it was determined that the District would take the lead in managing the venue; thus they hired a Theatre Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations. In the discussions, it was recommended that the City could support
this effort and meet the essence of the Arts Master Plan recommendation by entering into an agreement that offered financial support to the District to augment their operations. The agreement was modeled on the City’s agreement with the Santa Clarita Community College District for the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons. The current agreement runs from May 1, 2019, to April 30, 2022.
The following are highlights of the Newhall Family Theatre for the Performing Arts Agreement:
• City and District will enter into a three-year agreement. • The District is responsible for coordinating and scheduling the use of the Newhall Family Theatre for the Performing Arts by community organizations. • The City's contribution to the District is $75,000 for each year of the three years of the agreement.
• Community organizations will be entitled to the use of 80 days a year, with 40 days during the week (Monday to Thursday), and 40 days during the weekend (Friday to Sunday).
• The City and the District will work together to coordinate cross marketing efforts such as coverage of the Newhall Family Theatre for the Performing Arts in the City's publications, websites, and brochures.
All of the above are consistent with the existing agreement. The only modifications made to the new agreement were to the dates and term of the agreement and the addition of a section addressing COVID-19 protocols.
The Newhall Family Theatre for the Performing Arts is an historic 525-seat venue, located adjacent to the Old Town Newhall Arts and Entertainment District, contributing to the artistic and cultural landscape of the entire Santa Clarita Valley.
Below are some of the community organizations that have utilized the venue for performances and special events since the completion of the restoration of the venue in 2017:
• Raising the Curtain Foundation (theater, film screenings and an arts community showcase)
• Major Impact Theater (theater)
• Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival (theater)
• Olive Branch Theatricals (theater)
• SCV Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous (theater)
• SCVi (theater and dance)
• Santa Clarita Valley Youth Orchestra (music)
• Swadeshi Indian Cultural Group (dance)
• Santa Clarita Ballet Company (dance)
• Gervais School of Dance (dance)
• Dance 84 (dance)
• Kalakeke Pacific Island Dance Company (dance)
• Neuma Church (holiday production)
• Latino Business Alliance (awards gala with live music and dancers)
• City of Santa Clarita (volunteer recognition, author interviews, film festival, etc.)
The Arts Commission reviewed and recommended approval to the City Council for the Newhall Family Theatre for the Performing Arts Agreement at their meeting on April 14, 2022.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adequate funds to support this agreement is contingent upon appropriations of funds by the City Council during the annual budget process.
ATTACHMENTS
City & Newhall District Newhall Family Theatre Agreement 2022-2025