Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) is partnering with F & S Landscape Inc. of Tecumseh on several projects this season. The company has been an annual business sponsor and donor for many years as well as currently providing snow removal services during the winter months. In August, F & S Landscape Inc. updated the large flower beds located in front of the theater marquee. The previous landscape had been designed and installed by local high school students’ many years before. Over time, the mulch and original flowers had deteriorated, become overgrown with weeds and needed replacement.
“We greatly appreciate the support in updating our flower beds,” stated TCA Director Kelly Jo Gilmore. “They turned out beautifully and will be a wonderful welcome to patrons when they arrive at the theater. We are thrilled to partner with F & S Landscape inc. for our landscaping needs at the theater.” The current pandemic and closure of concert venues like Tecumseh Center for the Arts has allowed the theater to move forward with several outdoor projects including the landscaping and the new TCA Street Art Trail. “The TCA Street Art Trail is Phase 1 of our new Art | Music | Sculpture Park,” commented Gilmore. “The next phase will focus on the Sculpture Garden surrounding the new Street Art Trail. We will be partnering with F & S Landscape, Inc. to develop a master plan for the gardens and community inspired sculptures.” The garden will be located on the north side of the property and will surround the pole barn. The theater will be seeking sculpture submissions over the next few months with the goal to plant the garden and install the sculptures during the spring of 2021. “It is a great opportunity to partner with Tecumseh Center for the Arts,” stated Craig Fulton, owner of F & S Landscape Inc. “The theater plays an important role in our community through its shows and now through its outdoor space as well. As a local business, we are proud to support the theater and its programs. “ Community members and visitors can enjoy the TCA Street Art Trail and view the new flower beds by visiting Tecumseh Center for the Arts located at 400 North Maumee Street in Tecumseh, Michigan.
4 Comments
The 39th season was unlike any other in the theater's history. The first six months saw record numbers of season ticket holders, individual ticket sales, an increase in renters, donations and business sponsorships. In fact, the theater was on track to have one of its best years in decades. Then the world as we know it completely changed overnight due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The months of March through June tend to be Tecumseh Center for the Art's busy season. In fact, nearly half of all TCA shows take place during those specific months each season. When the pandemic forced theaters to close across the State of Michigan in mid-March, the theater was looking at $60-80,000 in lost revenue by the end of the fiscal year (June 2020). It was at that time, staff made the difficult decisions to eliminate as many expenses as possible while implementing additional revenue streams during the shut down. From laying off employees to refunding tickets, canceling contracts to announcing the "Together We Can" Donation Campaign; the community and the theater's endowment rallied, allowing the theater to balance its budget for the 2019-2020 season.
"The end of our 39th season was incredibly challenging," Stated TCA Director Kelly Jo Gilmore. "The theater takes great pride in balancing the budget each year and then all of a sudden we were looking at a rather significant decrease in revenue. It was then that the community came together and reminded us we are all in this together." Below are some highlights from the TCA's 39th Season Statistics Report:
|