A new project at Campbell River’s Tidemark Theatre is getting a financial boost from Island Coastal Economic Trust.
It’s one of three that have been approved under ICET’s Small Capital Restart Funding Stream.
The others are for Homalco Wildlife Tours and the District of Tofino.
Launched on June 4th, the program provides urgent, short-term COVID-related business and industry restart and sustainability funding for time-sensitive initiatives.
The grants of up to $15,000 are designed to support immediate opportunities to develop innovative solutions to operational restrictions and business closures.
The Tidemark’s “Streaming the Tide and Beyond” project will receive funding to purchase equipment required to pre-record content and live stream performances.
With no immediate opportunities for a normal return to operations, the Tidemark has had to rethink its service delivery model for an online and physically distanced audience.
The new streaming model will enable the society to restart programming despite closures and will create an opportunity to make live events sustainable despite attendance restrictions.
The new model will also provide businesses, arts and culture organizations and event organizers with a means to disseminate productions, workshops, lectures or other events beyond the walls of the Tidemark addressing needs in remote communities and schools, senior care or other underserved markets.
“Fostering business recovery and continuity in the region are top priorities,” says ICET CEO Line Robert.
“The Tidemark project shows how re-imagining business models for the “new normal” – with hybrid sources of revenue – can allow for a quicker restart that ultimately improves longer term sustainability.”
Homalco Wildlife Tours’ Orford Live Bear Cams project will enable the installation of equipment for virtual wildlife viewing, with access to a wildlife biologist for a more interactive and personal experience.
The District of Tofino will be receiving funding for its “Al Fresco Dining Pop-Ups”, to address the operational and financial challenges faced by food service establishments due to physical distancing measures.
All three projects are set to get underway in the coming days.
