Dalhousie University Archives Finding Aid - Dalhousie Arts Centre fonds (UA-29) Generated by the Archives Catalogue and Online Collections on January 24, 2017 Dalhousie University Archives 6225 University Avenue, 5th Floor, Killam Memorial Library Halifax Nova Scotia Canada B3H 4R2 Telephone: 902-494-3615 Email: [email protected] http://dal.ca/archives http://findingaids.library.dal.ca/dalhousie-arts-centre-fonds Dalhousie Arts Centre fonds Table of contents Summary information ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Administrative history / Biographical sketch .................................................................................................. 3 Scope and content ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Notes ................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Access points ................................................................................................................................................... 5 Collection holdings .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Administrative Records of the Dalhousie Arts Centre ................................................................................ 6 Audio Visual Materials ............................................................................................................................... 88 Committee on Cultural Activities .............................................................................................................. 90 Sub-committees ........................................................................................................................................ 90 Financial Records of the Dalhousie Arts Centre ....................................................................................... 99 Organizations ............................................................................................................................................ 134 Canadian ................................................................................................................................................. 134 International ............................................................................................................................................ 175 Photographic Materials ............................................................................................................................. 186 Productions, Performances and Events .................................................................................................... 267 Cancelled ................................................................................................................................................ 267 Potential Events ...................................................................................................................................... 303 Programs and Calendars ...................................................................................................................... 396 Private Bookings .................................................................................................................................... 604 Public Bookings ..................................................................................................................................... 628 Recordings .............................................................................................................................................. 930 Publicity .................................................................................................................................................... 939 Dalhousie University Archives Page 2 UA-29 Dalhousie Arts Centre fonds Summary information Repository: Dalhousie University Archives Title: Dalhousie Arts Centre fonds Reference code: UA-29 Date: 1956-2004, predominant 1970-1989 (date of creation) Language: English Physical description: 14.5 m of textual records and other material ca. 45 cm of photographic materials. - 3 videocassettes. - 2 audio reels. - 2 records. - 1 soundsheet. Note [generalNote]: Preferred citation: [Identification of item], Dalhousie Cultural Activities fonds, UA-29, Box [box number], Folder [folder number], Dalhousie University Archives and Special Collections, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Administrative history / Biographical sketch Note In the 1970s and early 1980s Dalhousie Cultural Activities referred to the department responsible for operating the Dalhousie Arts Centre and the university program of arts related activities it oversaw. Senate Standing Committee on Cultural Activities The department originated from a Senate Standing Committee on Cultural Activities created in 1964 to coordinate arts events on campus. The committee worked with three arts advisory sub-committees (one each for music, art, and theatre) and was Dalhousie’s first coordinated approach to cultural activity planning on campus. In addition to organizing specific events such as concert series, exhibitions, and workshops, the committee pressured senior administration to build a university centre for the arts which would house teaching and office space, an auditorium, a theatre, and a gallery. General Committee on Cultural Activities The Senate dissolved the committee two years later in favour of creating a formal university committee with a similar mandate. In 1966 President Hicks selected the members of the new General Committee on Cultural Activities which would be directly responsible to him. This committee continued to work with subcommittees who were allocated their own budgets and who were responsible for programming in specific areas: art, music, and theatre (a film subcommittee was also added in 1969). Members of the general committee included the chairmen of the sub-committees, students, alumni, representatives from the theatre and music departments, faculty, and other members from the community. In addition to developing and overseeing a well-rounded, university wide, cultural activity program on campus, the general committee was also involved with the development of the Dalhousie Arts Centre. The committee provided input on layout and design, set priorities for completion, and helped determine how the new facility would be managed. The committee played a pivotal role in securing a coordinator for Dalhousie University Archives Page 3 UA-29 Dalhousie Arts Centre fonds the centre and professional director for the gallery. John Cripton was hired to be the university’s first coordinator of cultural activities while Dr. Earnest Smith was appointed director of the gallery. Dalhousie Cultural Activities The committee evolved again with the opening of the Arts Centre in 1970. Both administrators were given seats on the general committee as ex-officio members and the department now became known collectively as Dalhousie Cultural Activities. Still responsible for providing a rounded cultural program, the general committee now also determined the policies of the Dalhousie Arts Centre and oversaw the activities of the coordinator. The new coordinator was responsible to the general committee and for administering the arts centre with the teaching programs in mind; cooperating with similar organizations in the community; preparing activity programs for the approval of the general committee; negotiating bookings for visiting performers; managing the daily activities of the centre and its staff; preparing budgets for committee approval; and publishing event calendars. Although an executive committee was formed in 1976 to help manage the affairs of the centre, the committee structure began to break down by the 1980s. Many of the sub-committees, the general committee, and the executive committee were meeting rarely and lacked enthusiasm, in part due to severe budget cuts and the growing complexity of operating the department. As a result, in 1984 the general committee was dissolved and the coordinator of cultural activities became directly responsible for the Arts Centre, liaising with the Art Gallery and other departments, and reporting to the vice president, finance and development. Dalhousie Arts Centre In 1985 Dalhousie Cultural Activities formally changed its name to the Dalhousie Arts Centre. As of 2006, the department continues to be responsible for the administration of the arts centre and remains one of four autonomous departments (the others being the Art Gallery, and the music and theatre departments) within the facility, responsible for managing the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium and three reception rooms. Thirty-five years after opening, the centre maintains a vibrant arts program for the university and greater Halifax community. Chief Officers Known chairmen of the General Committee of Cultural Activities include C.B. Weld (ca. 1966-1968), Malcolm Ross (ca. 1969-1971), George Nicholls (ca. 1972-1974), Rowland Smith (ca. 1975-1976), and Sonia Jones (ca. 1976-1980). Coordinators of the Arts Centre include John Cripton (1970-1973), Erik Perth (1973-1984), John Wilkes (1984-1987), Murray Farr (1987-1988), Robert Reinholdt (1988-1989), and Heather McGean (200?). Custodial history Materials donated by the Dalhousie Arts Centre in 2004. Scope