Timeline

A motion is brought forward to grant $125,000 from the Major Community Initiatives and Events Grant with the provision that the grant be matched in the community. A second motion was brought forward that $100,000 be awarded without any restrictions. This motion passed and was immediately matched by an anonymous donation from the community.

Council votes to deny the request for $250,000.

Major Community Initiatives and Events Grant submission decision is deferred to January 13, 2025.

In advance of Giving Tuesday, OG launches fundraising campaign with a goal of raising $200,000, which, combined with contributions from Thrive Impact Fund and Metcalf Foundation would complete the investor buyout.

Victoria City Council is presented with a report from City Staff outlining five possible options for the grant. After one hour of thorough discussion, the matter is deferred to allow for further consideration. 

OG sings term sheet with Thrive Impact Fund. (The loan is conditional on other support being non-repayable; i.e. the request to the city would greatly help leverage this.)

Other Guise hires iD2 Communications to assist with a capital campaign to raise the remaining $200,000 needed to buy out Kate.

Thrive Impact Fund board of directors approve a $400,000 loan.

OG shortlisted for a pilot project: Metcalf Foundation’s social finance initiative for the arts and cultural sector, with a request of $400,000. We’re an ideal candidate for a program Metcalf is developing for social financing. The outcome of this program is pending.

Victoria City Council discusses Major Community Initiatives and Events Grant submissions at the August 1 council meeting. Council sends the matter back to staff to find a way to better secure a potential quarter-million-dollar contribution to OG.

OG applies to the City of Victoria’s Major Community Initiatives and Events (MCIE) Grant program for $250,000

OG uses portions of the $100,000 from City of Victoria’s Infrastructure Grant and the majority of the $250,000 BC Arts Council infrastructure award to make a payment in the amount of $250,000. This cuts the amount owing to Kate $1.25 million.

City of Victoria supports the project with a $100,000 grant.

Kate's health takes a turn and, unable to find health care locally, she leaves Victoria for Toronto where she returns to good health. While Kate remains supportive of the project, she will not be returning to Victoria and is withdrawing financial support. OG Executive Director Matthew Payne begins the search for $1.5-million to replace this investment.

OG is successful with their request to BC Arts Council’s Infrastructure grant program for $250,000.

OG receives an anonymous donation of $300,000, which is used to reduce the amount owing to Kate down to $1.5M.

716 Johnson St is purchased for $2.4 million. The purchase was made possible with a forgivable loan of $1.8 million from Kate Kempton and a $600,000 loan from the vendor. Kempton had long had a vision for an arts space in downtown Victoria and was keen to support the project.

Discussion about the possibility of a downtown arts space begin.