WHAT’S HAPPENING?

The Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Arts Council was the driving force behind the establishment of The ACT Arts Centre in 2003.

Since that time, The Arts Council has operated The ACT Arts Centre in agreements with the City of Maple Ridge.

The City administration choose to let our long-standing agreements expire in December 2023, and The Arts Council is now operating the Centre on a month-to-month basis. The City of Maple Ridge has proposed agreements that The Arts Council Board have determined are not sustainable or supportable for the Arts Council’s long-term operation of the Centre.

We’re calling on City Council to:

• Engage the expertise of a third-party theatre consultant specialist, to recommend a sustainable operating model for The ACT Arts Centre.

• Commit to equitable, sustainable transparent support for The ACT Arts Centre

Email Your City Council

Let Council know that a sustainable future for the The ACT matters to you.

1. Copy and paste this subject line:

Sustainable Operation for The ACT

2. Copy and paste the email message:

Dear Mayor Ruimy and Members of Council,

As a resident and/or supporter of the arts in Maple Ridge, I am writing to express my concern about the future of The ACT Arts Centre.

The ACT plays an important role in our community. At The ACT, The Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Arts Council provides year-round cultural programming, supports local artists, and creates opportunities for residents of all ages to engage with the arts. I respectfully urge Council to bring in a third-party consultant with expertise in theatre operations to recommend a sustainable model for The ACT. I also encourage you to prioritize equitable and transparent municipal support for its continued operation.

The ACT deserves thoughtful planning, informed decision-making and long-term stability. I hope you will take the necessary steps to protect this important community resource.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Address or Postal Code]
[Your Email]


3. Send your message to the following recipients:

Copy and paste all these emails into the “To” field of your message:

druimy@mapleridge.ca, kcarreras@mapleridge.ca, odozie@mapleridge.ca, jdueck@mapleridge.ca, sschiller@mapleridge.ca, jtan@mapleridge.ca

Spread the word to your network.

Download the Social Media Content Advocacy Toolkit

Use these talking points in your own words when emailing, calling, or chatting with others:

• The ACT has served the community for 22+ years.

• Rising costs and decreased support = projected deficits.

• The ACT is operating month-to-month without a renewed agreement.

• Other cities have used theatre consultants—Maple Ridge should too.

• The arts deserve transparency and thoughtful planning.

Stay informed about The ACT’s future and other important updates:

• Join Our Email List

For more information about the advocacy campaign, or media requests, please contact:

Jessica Dionne, Manager, Marketing, Communications, and Brand
jessicad@mract.org