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Patricia struggles to stay alive

Manager invites public to help develop plan to save theatre

An annual general meeting (AGM) will be held for Friends of the Historic Patricia Theatre Society on Sunday, February 12, to strategize a way to keep the theatre alive as it faces either raising $75,000 to convert to digital projection or closure.

Everyone is invited to the meeting to help brainstorm how the theatre can raise the money to switch to digital. Sometime this year movies printed on film will no longer be distributed as an industry standard. The theatre needs to be upgraded to be able to show digital movies.

Ann Nelson, manager of the theatre, said she hopes to see some committees come out of the meeting that will be able to focus on fundraising, promotion, succession planning and other issues.

So far $2,500 has been raised through a fundraising concert and direct donations from people in the community.

“A long, long way to go yet before we’re ‘safe,’” said Nelson, “but there have been lots of interesting fundraising ideas flying about and [we] hope to get them focused at the meeting on Sunday.”

Volunteer “social media experts” Nicole Narbonne and Karen Skadsheim will be adding “fund-o-meter” to the website so everyone can see how the effort is going. A direct PayPal account is being set up so online donations can be made. Donations can also be made to the society’s bank account at First Credit Union or at the theatre.

Grant options are also still being explored. Nelson will speak at the City of Powell River  committee-of-the-whole meeting on Thursday, February 16, to advise mayor and council on developments.

The AGM will be held at 2:30 pm at the Patricia. Laura Berezan will chair the meeting.