According to the theater association, it does not have the resources to start running the theater from the beginning of next year, because there are no functioning facilities. The association proposes that the theater continue as a municipal theater for another year.
The continuation of Kemi’s theater activities has taken another turn. The theater association of Meri-Lappi proposes a one-year extension to start its operations.
The negotiations between the city of Kemi and the Meri-Lappi theater association on the partnership agreement have ended. The contract, which has been discussed all autumn, was on display at the Kemi welfare board on Thursday.
However, the theater association announced that it does not have the resources to start running the theater as planned from the beginning of next year, because the space issue is still unresolved. The association has no money and no guarantees for the renovation of the former bank planned as a theater space.
The association proposes to the welfare board that the theater in Kemi should continue as a municipal theater until next year, during which the space issue could be resolved. The board will hold an extra meeting on the matter next week.
– The association has no funds. The grant of 370,000 euros received from the city and the state contribution of 730,000 go mainly to salary costs, which is required by the state contribution. Theaters are also required for performances and box office receipts, which require performance spaces.
It has already been possible to solve the space problem before
Last May, the Kemi city council decided that the welfare board will start the preparation of the administrative change so that the Kemi city theater will continue to operate as an association from the beginning of 2023.
According to the decision, the change had to be prepared in accordance with the service and production model drawn up by the theater.
One option has also been that the owner of the bank property would renovate the space and the theater would pay off its renovation debt along with the rent. That offer was made before the city theater became an association.
\”This is a matter of will\”
The city would also have had the opportunity to renovate the premises for the theater earlier. If this had been done, it would be easier for the association to become a tenant now. A year ago, the costs of renovating the Bank were estimated at around 350,000 euros.
– One more possibility is for the city to invest in the premises, which the association then rents. It has to be resolved somehow. The truth is, however, that without facilities the association cannot function as it is required to do, vs. theater director Petri Jäärni says.
– Of course, the theater has to have the facilities. This is also a matter of will, when the renovation is not even a very big investment. Millions have been moved in this city, Hyötylä states.
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