Chatham-Kent Council has directed municipal staff to examine all effective options for future community use of the Capitol Theatre in Chatham.
The building is owned by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and, since 2012 under the management of St. Clair College, the theatre has hosted popular entertainment performances, movie nights, business meetings, receptions and convocation ceremonies for St. Clair College.
However, the college has advised the municipality that, effective March 2016, it will opt out of the current agreement, although it remains open to discussing the possibilities of restructuring the agreement and is committed to Chatham-Kent.
“Thanks in a large part to St. Clair’s activities to date, the Capitol Theatre has given a real boost to the downtown Chatham economy, our community’s quality of life, and our attractiveness to newcomers and investors,” said Don Shropshire, Chief Administrative Officer for the municipality.
“Going forward, we need to make sure that the Capitol is managed in the most sustainable and productive way. Council has instructed municipal staff to look at the options for achieving this and to report back in a public Council meeting.”
St. Clair College has issued the following statement:
St. Clair College meets with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent Administration over Capitol Theatre
In 2012, St. Clair College entered into an agreement with the municipality to manage all aspects of the Capitol Theatre on King Street in downtown Chatham.
Due to the recent financial position of the College and the financial statements in respect to the Capitol Theatre operation, the College has sent a letter to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent advising them of the decision to exercise the option to return the management and assets of the Capitol Theatre back to the Municipality in March 2016.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is committed to operating the theatre until 2027. Staff are in the process of examining all potential alternatives to consider in the continued operation of this excellent municipal asset. Chatham-Kent has benefited greatly through the diverse offerings of the theatre in recent years, as has the community of Chatham and the downtown area. The Mayor and Council have directed staff to examine all alternatives in order to establish the most effective and efficient means of continuing to deliver the experiences on offer at the theatre, and staff will review all expressions of interest in the continued operation of the Capitol Theatre.
Since St. Clair College has operated the Capitol Theatre, it has been home to many student, local, national and international performances, movie nights, business meetings and receptions and has been the home of both the fall and spring convocation ceremonies for St. Clair College. College President Patti France has expressed to Mayor Hope and administration her openness to discuss the possibilities of restructuring the existing agreement and remains committed to Chatham/Kent.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent continues to strive toward creating a great community in which to work, play and visit. With this in mind, the sustained success of the Capitol Theatre remains a key element in attaining our shared vision.
– Photo credit: St. Clair College Capitol Theatre
