Yellowknife (Nov 19/04) - The Northern Arts Cultural Centre (NACC) is getting its finances in order and is returning to its mandate.

At the last annual general meeting in January, NACC's administration was in disarray following the death of office manager Patricia Dei in a car accident and executive director Ina Murray's plans to retire to B.C.

Patrons file into NACC's auditorium for the 20th anniversary show in October. New staff spent months getting the books in order and the organization is still in the black. - NNSL file photo

On Sunday, the board was presented with two years' worth of financial statements -- June 2002-June 2004.

The board also received reports from president Ken Woodley and executive and artistic director Ben Nind outlining NACC's new strategy.

Nind and office manager Cathy Comeau were hired in May.

They spent most of their first few months on the job compiling the financial information for the two previous fiscal years, as well as arranging the programming for the 2004-2005 season.

Other urgent priorities were setting up the box office and a seasons' tickets system, reorganizing the backstage, and recruiting sponsors and volunteers.

Areas NACC will focus on now are fundraising, continuing the volunteer and sponsorship programs, and community outreach.

Fundraising and sponsorship will be a priority, said Woodley.

Fundraising revenues dropped from $49,005 in 2001-2002 to $1,210 in 2003-2004, mainly as a result of ending bingos, which Woodley said became increasingly complicated and expensive to operate.

As part of the community outreach, each southern group that performs at NACC this season will do a Friday matinee show for students.

Vince McCormick of Lunchpail Theatre expressed concern about the expansion of the NACC season to eight shows by southern performers, and the possibility that a further expansion will crowd out Yellowknife theatre groups.

Also, the rental cost for the auditorium jumped this season to $600 a night from $450, which his group found out when they arrived to set up their play 7 Stories.

Nind said when he began in May, contracts were not being signed and the rentals were operating under 1999 prices.

NACC is trying to formalize rental arrangements in advance.

The eight outside shows were booked this year to fill out the schedule and to try and re-ignite interest in the theatre, said Nind.

Next year only six outside shows will be brought in to perform at NACC, he said.

In his president's report, Woodley mentioned setting up a freestanding facility as one of NACC's future projects.

Nind said this venue would ideally be a NACC-run satellite facility that would provide a smaller theatrical space, as well as a rehearsal studio and rooms for set and costume design.