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Capitol Centre starting an online summer concert series

'We've been able to partner a lot more with our local artists and musicians and it's been very exciting to see'
20191016 capitol centre rear view turl
The McIntyre St. side of the Capitol Centre. File photo by Jeff Turl/BayToday.

The Capitol Centre will be running an online shared-benefit summer concert series as a way to create some revenue for the suffering local entertainment industry during the pandemic.  

Capitol Centre officials are working hard to showcase local musicians in their online concerts since the pandemic shutdown began, but they need to start generating revenue. 

Executive Director Katina Connolly told a recent Facebook Live 'Status Chat' that they have had some layoffs and furloughs at the Capitol Centre.

"Because of ongoing government relief efforts and grants we have been able to manage with a smaller payroll those essential expenses and even minimal virtual programming efforts, but we will not be able to carry on this way forever," she said.

Connolly says they will be relying heavily on revenue flow and donations as they look ahead to reopening. 

For the shared-benefit summer concert series, which will take place on Facebook,

Since the Capitol Centre cannot physically have acts perform on its stage in front of fans, they are helping musicians in other ways such as providing the venue and tech support for pre-recording the concerts with the artists providing the music. 

The musicians and the Capitol Centre will share any revenue from donations. 

"We've been able to partner a lot more with our local artists and musicians and it's been very exciting to see, to be able to showcase them and work with them as a part of our virtual programming efforts," said Connolly. 

Performers interested in being part of the Shared-Benefit Summer Concert Series are asked to send a short bio and live performance clip to [email protected]

Meantime, WKP Kennedy Director/Curator Alix Voz says they're looking to open mid-July.

"We're not just going to open the doors freely, it will probably be by appointment, but then you get to have almost a private experience going through the gallery, so it's going to be quite special, even though the building is going to be quiet it's going to be a special moment in the gallery," she told the recent Facebook Live 'Status Chat".

For ongoing updates and information check the Capitol Centre’s social media platforms or visit capitolcentre.org.

You can view the entire Capitol Centre Facebook Live 'Status Chat' HERE.

With files from Richard Coffin/CKAT