Friends of The Rio... UPDATE! We've been given more time! Our new deadline is April 16th! We hope to get as close as we can to our $1 million campaign goal but do not fear we can still buy the property raising funds through investors. Failure is NOT an option! WE CAN DO THIS!
The Rio Theatre needs your help! Recent zoning changes have attracted the attention of developers who want to buy The Rio and tear it down for a new development project that would leave a big cavernous hole on the corner of Commercial and Broadway for years, and there is only one way to stop them: We have to buy The Rio!
To do that, we need to raise a $3 million down payment: we hope to do that with $1 million from donors like you, plus $2 million from private investors.
We can do this! The Rio has overcome adversity before with the huge support of the community. Our accepted offer to purchase the property was supported by over 22,000 signatures collected in just five days.
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The Rio Theatre is one of the last remaining indie theatres in Vancouver. With the community’s support to change the liquor laws in 2012 The Rio is now an award winning, successful business, a live performance venue/single-screen cinema that is thriving and leading the way as a model for other independent theatres to succeed.
The Rio is located at Commercial and Broadway which is a central transit station in the heart of East Vancouver. Recent zoning changes led the property owners of the historical art-deco cinema to put it up for sale. To stop developers from giving it the same fate as other beloved cultural institutions in the city, we need to take action!
We now have until midnight on April 16th to raise the funds for the down payment, so that we can secure a mortgage and finalize the purchase of the property.
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Yes! The Rio is no stranger to overcoming adversity, and East Van is not afraid of a fight. In 2012, with a groundswell of sustained community support, we won a very public battle with the LCLB to change the liquor laws to allow movie theatres to serve alcohol. Our victory in this public battle led to modernization of outdated liquor laws for the entire province of B.C.
In January 2013, Corinne Lea, owner operator of the Rio Theatre business, who led the battle to change the BC liquor laws, received the Diamond Jubilee Governor General's Award from the Queen.
Failure is not an option. Although the Rio holds a lease for the next three years, with an option to renew, failure to purchase the building will put The Rio in the hands of developers, leaving our future uncertain.
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We need to raise a $3 million down payment. We hope to do this with $1 million from donors like you through this crowdfunding campaign — if most of the 22,000 people who signed the petition gave just $100 each, we would easily meet and exceed our goal. We are looking to raise another $2 million from private investors. In addition, Corinne Lea, owner operator of The Rio business, will be taking on the mortgage and is investing her own personal funds to help make this happen.
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100% of your donation will go toward buying the property, 25% will go directly to The Rio business (Shameless Lee Productions Ltd.) to cover the costs of the purchase and the costs of this campaign. The other 75% will be donated to, The Vancouver Art House Society, a registered non-profit B.C. Society that will invest the donated funds to purchase the property and become an equity shareholder of the real estate. Run by a board of industry professionals, this society was created to ensure that funds raised by your donation will not only help save the Rio but it will continue on as a legacy project to help other Vancouver arts and culture organizations in the future. If you want 100% of your donation to go directly to the Art House Society there is an option you can choose in the list of perks. All funds donated to the non-profit Society will go towards purchasing shares of the property. The non-profit Society and the private investors are all shareholders of the property, they will not be involved with the daily operations running the theatre, instead they will become the new property owners!
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The Vancouver Art House Society
A registered non-profit B.C. Society with a mandate to help save Arts and Culture spaces in Vancouver. Run by a board of industry professionals, this Society was created to ensure that funds raised by your donation will not only help save the Rio, but it will continue on as a legacy project to help other Vancouver arts and culture organizations in the future. https://www.facebook.com/VanArtHouseSociety/
Board Members: (We are currently in the process of building a dynamic team of local board members but here's the founding crew)
Corinne Lea : The Founder, CEO of The Rio Theatre. Corinne is an artist, entrepreneur and producer who has founded several successful, arts and cultural businesses in Vancouver such as: Flux Studios, Havana Restaurant Gallery & Theatre, Scout Boutique & Gallery and since 2008 she has owned and operated The Rio Theatre as Shameless Lee Productions, adding Xcalibur Film Productions in 2014 to the list. In January 2012 Corinne Lea became well known for her very public battle, waged against The Liquor Control and Licensing Branch, in an effort to change the BC liquor laws that prevented movie theatres from obtaining a liquor license. In April 2012 the battle was successful and they managed to get the BC Government Liquor laws changed for the entire Province which enabled movie theatres to serve alcohol. This was a major win for Independent theatres throughout B.C.
In January 2013 Corinne Lea received the Diamond Jubilee Governor Generals Award from the Queen. Essentially, she was awarded a medal from the government for fighting the government! She has over twenty years experience producing and promoting live multi-media shows and events. Working directly with distributors in the Film Industry, she heads a team of programmers who are responsible for The Rio Theatre’s diverse and award winning programming. She has two degrees: a BFA from Emily Carr Institute and a BA of Education from Simon Fraser University.
David Duprey: Is passionate about offering Vancouverites eclectic spaces, places for food and drink, dance, art and music rife with character and history. His businesses encourage people to unshackle themselves and let their creativity run wild. All of our projects are a little left of centre. David Duprey believes that remarkable things happen when creative-minded people join forces to forge new-fangled artistic paths. With four live music venues, five art galleries, two restaurants, one bar/lounge, a music festival and an abundance of affordable studio space for hundreds of working artists now under our belt, his journey is just beginning. Raised in Vancouver David loves the way this city continues to evolve and grow. It is our mission to give agency to this grassroots artistic movement in Vancouver. We take pride in maintaining the architectural integrity of this city through refurbishment and reinvention. http://randdinc.ca/past.html
Michael Wiebe: Vancouver Park Board Commissioner , Owner of eight 1/2 restaurant lounge, MPBIA Co-president, Portside Pub Corporate Food Manager, & passionate Vancouverite. Commissioner Wiebe grew up skating on Jericho Pond, swimming at English Bay, and cycling in Stanley Park. He’s now a local business owner and community leader who wants to enhance Vancouver’s parks and facilities. Commissioner Wiebe mapped out the wheelchair accessibility of all trails in Stanley Park when he was only 12 years old and later co-founded the Vancouver Lifeguard Association. With a degree in business administration, he worked for the provincial government before opening his own restaurant, Eight 1/2, based on sustainable principles, including zero waste. Commissioner Wiebe is a director of the Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Area and a leader in zero waste, and has spoken internationally. A resident of Mount Pleasant, Commissioner Wiebe wants to help ensure that the right decisions are being made for Vancouver’s parks, guided by evidence-based policy and the principles of sustainability. He is also very passionate about saving arts and culture venues in Vancouver.
News update The Hollywood Arts Foundation joins force with The Vancouver Art House Society to offer tax receipts for larger donations!
It turns out, The Hollywood Arts Foundation also shares our goal, to help save Arts and culture venues in Vancouver. So we have decided to join forces! Not only will we be stronger together but the other major benefit this merge can offer is a tax receipt for all donations made to the Charitable Foundation and in return The Hollywood Arts Foundation will also become a shareholder in the property just like the, The Vancouver Art House Society.
The Hollywood Arts Foundation was created in 2016 by members of the Save the Hollywood Theatre Coalition in order to save arts and cultural venues in Vancouver. The loss of theatres, movie houses, bookstores, music institutions and other cultural businesses has accelerated in the last decade, under the pressure of real estate development. We feel that culture is an invaluable resource for a positive future in our city. It is the element through which we can better understand each other, how we can live together and make our city our home. The Hollywood Arts Foundation is dedicated to helping arts and cultural organizations and venues to thrive in Vancouver.
hollywoodartsfoundation@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/VancouverHollywoodFoundation/
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1. DONATE. Choose a perk, or donate any amount by clicking the "Back It" button with the amount you wish to contribute. New perks will be added throughout the campaign! Plus EVERYONE who donates (unless you wish to remain anonymous) will get their name on our, "I Saved The Rio", wall of fame that will be played on our big screen during our pre-show reel!
Included in our perks is a special, I Saved The Rio Membership, card that not only gives you perks at the Rio but it also gives you discounts at local restaurants before or after the show such as Storm Crow, Chambar, JamJar, Bandidas, Eight & 1/2, Commercial Street Cafe and the list is growing everyday!
2. INVEST. Those who wish to invest $25,000 or more can become equity shareholders in The Rio property as long as you qualify as a friend, family, or an accredited investor. To choose this option, contact Corinne Lea directly for more information at corinne@riotheatre.ca
3. SPREAD THE WORD. Even if you are unable to donate or invest, you can help by sharing this campaign on social media and through personal contacts.
4. COME TO OUR EVENTS. We are planning a few awesome fundraising events that we will announce soon! To see our full schedule, visit www.riotheatre.ca
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Saving The Rio is not only important to me – it’s important to the culture of Vancouver and all the indie filmmakers and live performers who share their art with the community. The Rio Theatre is “an experience you can’t download” – that we share together and these communal experiences make all our lives richer. We cannot lose this important cultural landmark!
Thank you, Corinne Lea
https://globalnews.ca/news/4010500/director-kev...
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-co...
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What if we don't raise the money by the deadline? We are confident we can raise the money we need by April 16, 2018. But if we do not reach our $1 million goal from crowdfunding, we can still raise the funds through investors and buy the property! That is why we have set this as a flexible goal. However if we are not able to purchase the property, all donated funds raised will be returned and The Rio Theatre business will continue to operate for the remainder of our lease.
Can I donate a perk? Yes! Please email us at corinne@riotheatre.ca
More questions? Send us an email!
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"The Rio is East Van culture. Please save it" — Roy Abraham
"It’s a part of Vancouver that cannot be replaced. There’s nowhere else in the city like it." — Natalie Bruneau
"The Rio is where I go when everything else in my life has fallen apart. It's always there for you, doors open and heart even wider." — Ben Taylor
"It’s where James Franco had seen “The Room” and then he created “The Disaster Artist” adaptation and I saw “The Disaster Artist” in the Rio and it was a really good feeling." - Nick Martinez
Kevin Smith, to Global News: “It’s a shame that some of the art houses have gone the way of the dinosaur,” he said. “This is one that’s still around and still functioning. If we can do anything to bring attention and keep those doors open, that would be a positive thing.” Smith said his fondest memory of the Rio was recording an episode of his podcast there in front of a live audience. He said he is willing to perform there again to raise money and awareness. He added that he’ll do whatever else he can to save the venerable East Van theatre, even if it means “trying to literally hold the doors open with my body, my large body. If that’s how I keep the Rio open, by keeping my body in the doorway, I’ll do it.” — Kevin Smith
"It's one of my favourite theatres and has the best lineup to watch as often you can't find the Rio's screenings anywhere else." — Lucas Rojen
"The Rio is a gathering place that connects music, theatre, art and film in Vancouver. One of the only places left with independent heart and spirit. In East Vancouver, it seems to be the only venue left that maintains diverse programming. A huge community landmark! " — Andrea Chlebak
"The Rio is a fantastic and unique environment. A crucial feature of Commercial Drive and Vancouver communities, this theatre has inspired both filmmakers and viewers in ways that franchised theatres could never. Without its influence, Vancouver's cinematic legacy would not exist. Personally, this theater is my favourite thing about Vancouver, as its space allows viewers to escape the mundane and enter a welcoming and interactive space. Giving life to performances, festivals, fandoms, and independent movies, displacing this establishment would be a terrible mistake. Its influence to Vancouver can not be understated. Let the Rio live on and continue to group the ostracized and inspire creative freedom." — Brenna McCabe
"The Rio isn’t just ‘a Theatre’. It is a symbol of character and diversity in a city that seems to not value its preservation while approving all of these redevelopment plans. Every time I’ve gone to this venue, it has been for a completely unique experience: a Greenpeace documentary, a comedy show, puppeteer DJs, human DJs, costumed 80s movie viewing, the Academy Awards. In a city crying for arts venues, this one provides.” — Janine M./Canadianish
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Thank you to our amazing supporters and those who donated perks!
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