Cultural Center defends eviction
For its part, the Cultural Center has defended its decision, citing problems related to space, which they say RuBarb has more than occupied. Derik Cronan, manager at the Cultural Center says RuBarb’s tenancy has limited the Center’s ability to fully cater to the needs of other groups who wish to use the facility in regards to, for example, rehearsal space. He noted that since RuBarb moved into the building, the theater group has occupied a lot of space. They maintain that the decision to terminate RuBarb’s tenancy is solely because of “space”.
Cronan noted that the controversial lease agreement went against the decision of the board of the Cultural Center in its initial stage. In essence, the contract/lease agreement was not approved by the Board. “There was a contract that was entered into by our previous manager in May 2017 and it went directly against the Board voting on whether or not to enter into a contract with RuBarb at the time,” said Cronan. “After seeking legal advice, we were told that due to the nature of the contract, it may be possible to get out of it that time but we decided to instead issue 12 months’ notice to vacate with intent to re-negotiate the contract. That was delivered to them [RuBarb] on June 16, 2017. Our intentions were to attempt to come to terms that were mutually beneficial. We’ve met three times between December last year and the end of May this year and RuBarb expressed concerns of giving up rehearsal space,” Cronan explained. He highlighted instances of space-related issues that he says were directly because RuBarb occupied spaces with props, costumes and more which he said continued to accumulate over time. “The Moose Jaw Cultural Center was built for arts groups and arts organizations of all kinds. We have schools that come here, bands and choral festivals held here and others, all of which require rehearsal space. For the past year, abiding to that contract, we have had to make sacrifices, renting other spaces to other art organizations. The main concern was rehearsal space. In the past 6 months since we started to negotiate, there were some concerns over the amount of space that was defined in the contract as “shared space as needed” that has been taken up by prop storage, costume storage etc. We have had to move things out of the way to allow groups to bring in their equipment. Items by the theatre company has just accumulated over the last year and has hindered our ability to provide the necessary spaces for other art groups and organizations in the community.” Cronan contends that the Board stands by its decision because the facility is not able to accommodate RuBarb, as well as other community art groups that wish to use the space. The Cultural Centre’s Board of Directors is set to meet again to further discuss the matter. “A full-sized theatre company requires far more space than we have in this facility and we can’t accommodate RuBarb and all the other art groups in the community. Money was not and has not played a part in us terminating the contract. The sole reason is to address the issue of space. We want to maintain a relationship with RuBarb Productions in relation to their shows being held at the facility.” Meanwhile, Mayor Fraser Tolmie says the city will not intervene in the matter. The facility is owned by the City of Moose Jaw but is operated by Moose Jaw Cultural Centre Inc., a non-profit board of directors which operates at arm’s length from the City of Moose Jaw. Moose Jaw Cultural Centre Inc. is responsible for the operation, management and programming of the facility.