Dear Friends of the HAT,
In just six years we’ve had tremendous success, but COVID-19 presents an unprecedented challenge. We want to rise to that challenge with something equally unprecedented. Something radical.
We want to be the first Professional Community-Funded Theatre in Canada.
We want to provide tickets to all 12 of our annual Mainstage Productions to anyone and everyone…
Free of charge.
The number one barrier to arts and especially theatre is socio-economic considerations. We want to eliminate that barrier completely, not just for the marginalized sectors of our community, but for everyone.
We need your help.
We are asking you to commit to a monthly donation at whatever level you are comfortable with: $5 a month, $25 a month, $100… no donation is too small or too big.
As a Not-for-Profit Charitable Organization, we’ll be able to offer you a Tax-Deductible Receipt at the end of the year. But you’ll also be making history as every donation puts us closer to fully funding our 12 Mainstage Productions and ensuring #RadicalAccess to anyone and everyone who steps foot in our theatre.
As we reach our 2020 Monthly Pledge Goals, we will commit to the following projects for our community:
***I just want to emphasize: These are not “perks” or advantages given to donors, these are community initiatives that your funding will allow us to provide for EVERYONE.
HAT 2020 MONTHLY PLEDGE GOALS
TIER 1 - UNLOCKED!
If we receive total commitments of at least $10,000 in donations per month,
we pledge to provide…
Free Access for a newly produced podcast series of Audio Dramas (radio plays) by Cape Breton playwrights and featuring Cape Breton talent.
Free Access to specially created “Zoom” Theatre and video content.
Free Live-Streamed performances (like the HAT-A-Versary Telethon on July 19th!)
Continued free access to videos of past HAT productions on YouTube through the HAT Archival Collection
(click here to access now)
At least one ASL interpreted performance for every Mainstage Production.
A $10,000 commission for a new play or musical by a Black or Indigenous theatre artist with the intent to produce in a future season.
TIER 2 - UNLOCKED!
If we receive total commitments of at least $20,000 in donations per month,
we pledge to provide…
Everything from Pledge Tier 1.
Free Access to a Live-Stream of each of our 12 Mainstage Productions for anyone to watch at home, regardless of where in the world they are.
Original, site-specific, immersive theatre experiences that will be able to accommodate small groups of physically distancing audiences.
100 Scholarships per year for theatre camps and courses through our HAT Academy for youth who wouldn’t otherwise be able to participate, with priority going to Black, Indigenous, and Queer youth ages 10-18.
TIER 3 - UNLOCKED!
If we receive total commitments of at least $30,000 in donations per month,
we pledge to provide…
Everything from Pledge Tiers 1 & 2.
300 “PWYC” Seats for each of our 12 Mainstage productions for anyone who needs a little extra help or who doesn’t have disposable income.
Free Access to 3 Productions per year that will be offered as field trips to all local high schools, free of charge.
A $25,000 commitment to develop a new theatrical work, created by and featuring Mi’kmaq artists and performers from the Unama'ki region.
An annual “HAT Young Company” program to provide full-time summer employment for 10 Nova Scotian post-secondary theatre students.
TIER 4 - UNLOCKED!
If we receive total commitments of at least $40,000 in donations per month,
we pledge to provide…
Everything from Pledge Tiers 1, 2, & 3.
$15 tickets and $10 ticket packages for all 12 Mainstage Productions for everyone, across the board,
regardless of financial need.
An annual “Artist in Residence” program that will provide consistent work and subsistence
for local and nationally-renowned theatre artists.
A major renovation of the HAT Academy classroom space, allowing for more classes and workshops
as well as opportunities for more scholarships.
TIER 5 - UNLOCKED!
If we receive total commitments of at least $50,000 in donations per month…
We will commit to offering all 12 Mainstage Productions per year free of charge.
No ticket cost across the board, regardless of financial need.
It’s a radical proposal, but we believe it’s also incredibly doable.
If every one of our 1500 regular subscribers committed to a donation of only $25 per month, we would already be 75% of the way to our TIER 5 Goal. And with the tax-deduction from your receipt, you’d actually be paying less than the cost of all three seasonal Ticket Packages.
It’s a win-win, but we need you to believe.
Make your donation today. Prove us right and ensure the HAT will stand tall for years to come. Embrace the unprecedented and help us make history.
There will be lots of updates in the coming days, including more information on our 6th HAT-A-Versary Live-Streamed Telethon Spectacular, our tentative August Mainstage Season (pending no further outbreaks in Nova Scotia), as well as an additional page and videos for Frequently Asked Questions.
For now, if you want to help, let us know. Share this page. Tell your friends. Let us know if you want to volunteer to help out by e-mailing us at info@highlandartstheatre.com. But most importantly…
Make your pledge.
If you’re excited and see the amazing potential of this revolutionary system, make your pledge right now.
Campaigns run on momentum and if we can secure a strong initial response by the end of the first weekend, word of mouth and social media will do so much of the work for us and convince naysayers that this is not only possible, it’s inevitable.
On behalf of the HAT, all our Artists, Staff, Technicians, Volunteers, Members, Board of Directors, and me…
Thank you.
See you at the HAT!
Wesley J. Colford (they/them)
Artistic & Executive Director, Highland Arts Theatre
To make your pledge, please e-mail us at: admin@highlandartstheatre.com