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By Chad Williams 
Apr 23, 2020
CAPE TOWN – The Baxter Theater performing arts center is likely only to reopen in early 2021 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the theater’s CEO, Lara Foot.
The center, which is not funded by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, says it has been seriously affected by the current pandemic and is asking for public support to keep its doors open after the pandemic comes to an end. The theater has said in a statement.
Unlike the Artscape Theater Center, the Market, and other government-supported state theaters, the theater also does not qualify for funding from the National Lottery Commission.
According to Foot, a few weeks before the pandemic, he met with the vice chancellor of the University of Cape Town on the sustainability of the Baxter Theater, and also discussed a way to become less dependent on university funds. .
Foot added that the university awards the center a grant of about a third of its annual operating expenses. The remainder of the theater’s expenses are paid from its annual income, which includes ticket sales, donations, theater rentals, and interest on the Theater’s Endowment Fund.
“We are the most active theater in the country, we present more than 3,000 performances a year, with a growing international reputation. We are also the most diverse theater in the country, when it comes to programming and audience members, ”said Foot.
“We do this with a small and dedicated staff, all working two or three portfolios at the same time. Our staffing complement is half the size of similar-sized theaters in the country, ”said Foot.
Meanwhile, theater management says its production fund is separate from its operating fund, and that the CEO has to raise funds for each separately.
Foot also says that these days it is extremely difficult to find a sizeable annual grant from any individual or business.
Furthermore, the CEO said they did not foresee that the theater could function optimally until early 2021.
“We have to raise R5 million to get through this year. Baxter’s very existence depends on this amount, “Foot said.
The Baxter said in a statement that he would like the theater’s patrons to consider the following:
* Contributing R30 per month to the Baxter Theater, or R360 per year.
* Helping to reach 30,000 taxpayers by sharing this letter with friends and family and advocating for this on behalf of The Baxter.
If you want to make a more substantial donation, we can provide you with a Section 18A tax certificate. In this case, please send me an email.
We need to accumulate 30,000 donors over the next year. This would equal approximately R10,800,000 per year and here is how the money will be allocated.
To raise R5,000,000 to pass this year, Baxter’s allocation would be as follows:
* R 6 800 000 – To be self-sustaining and not depend so much on the university to ensure the future of our theater. This is an urgent priority.
* R 4,000,000 – To be invested in our Permanent Endowment Fund, to earn interest on those funds.
We would provide full transparency to all of you, our collaborators.
Our deepest wish is that, as a friend of Baxter, you help us increase the number of our contributors.
If you decide to sign up for the “cup of coffee,” please let us know when you have done so via email.
If you have more ideas or concerns, or if you want to commit to finding some more contributors for us, please email again [email protected] or [email protected]
Donate with a debit / credit card
You can pay online with a debit / credit card here: http://www.baxter.co.za/buy-baxter-cup-coffee. Or use our bank details below.
Donate by EFT or Stop Order
Account Name: UCT Baxter Theater Center Deposit Account
Bank: Standard Bank
Branch: Rondebosch
Acc. Number: 270628444
Branch code: 025009
Swift Code: SBZAZAJJ
Reference: Baxangels
African News Agency (ANA)
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