Marigold gets an upgrade
New theatre lighting offers more options
New, modern theatre lighting to be installed at the Marigold Cultural Centre is expected to save the facility thousands of dollars per year in electricity costs.
The centre’s 50 stage and catwalk lights are being replaced thanks to $51,602 in federal funding through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund.
“It’s a pleasure for us to help you advance and improve your efficiency,” Cumberland Colchester MP Bill Casey said, in making the recent funding announcement to the Cobequid Arts Council at the Marigold.
“The Marigold Cultural Centre plays such a key role in the community,” he said, of both the cultural and economic benefits it provides.
“When you’re full, the restaurants are full, the hotels are full and it has a big impact on the economy.”
The announcement was made on behalf of Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage to purchase and install energy-efficient and safe theatre lighting that will meet industry standards.
The new 100-watt LED lights will replace the existing and outdated 575-watt quartz lights in the centre.
Farida Gabbani, managing director at the facility said the new lighting will also be cooler, which will be a benefit to performers, staff and audiences alike.
“We’re working to attract better artists so we can be plausible,” she said, adding the majority of the Marigold’s funding comes from ticket sales.
“So it’s really important that we bring the right people to our stage.”
Casey also announced an additional $8,000 contribution allocated through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund for programming of the centre’s 2017/18 professional performing arts series.
Gabbini said those funds will be used to help bring in more high-calibre performers.
Installation of the lights is expected to be at least partly completed in time for NS Music Week in early November.
“We’re more determined than ever to make this place even better,” said arts council chairman Vern Hearn.
Richard Urquhart of Phillips Lighting, the supplier of the new lights said they offer numerous benefits over the existing models.
“With LED, number one, there’s significant savings with electricity. But, also, when you run that through a data controller you can tell it to be whatever colour you want it to be,” he said, of the “limitless” colour combinations.
“So what used to be four or five fixtures can now be two or three fixtures because you are not blending physical fixtures you are just blending LEDs within the fixtures.”