Project Description
Toronto, Ontario, 2013
The St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts is a City-owned theatre complex in downtown Toronto comprised of the 876-seat Bluma Appel Theatre and the cozier 498-seat Jane Mallet Theatre. When Janis Barlow and Jenny Ginder were hired as consultants the theatre had been experiencing significant change in its public funding and union expenses. The City had considered selling the complex but, unable to find a buyer, instead undertook a strategic and business planning process.
Janis Barlow and Jenny Ginder worked closely with the board and staff of The St. Lawrence Center to analyze the business model, assess business options and develop a comprehensive five-year strategic plan. The report also identified the strength of partnering with other performing arts organizations and theatre spaces, an important shift in how city-run theatres typically produce and manage.