Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers

In honour of Rachel Browne’s historically significant contribution to dance in Canada and to secure a vital and vibrant future for the Company she founded in 1964 Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers launched a fundraising campaign at the beginning of the 2006/07 season.

The Rachel Browne Legacy Campaign undertook the establishment of three funds to ensure the sustainability of WCD. The goal was to raise a minimum of $50,000 for each fund as outlined below.

The Artist Development Fund - To engage and promote emerging dancers and choreographers, with particular emphasis on Manitoba dance artists and graduates of the School of Contemporary Dancers. This Fund supports an apprentice dancer position for two seasons and enables the Company to establish a mentored workshop series for choreographers. These two initiatives satisfy artistic, and audience development goals while supporting the operating budget to ensure financial stability and sustainability.

The Rachel Browne Theatre Fund - To provide for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the Rachel Browne Studio Theatre. This fund supports current budgetary goals for a balanced operation and ongoing sustainability of WCD as well as the myriad of organizations that access the Theatre. The culmination of The Rachel Browne Legacy Campaign will be marked by the renaming our venue The Rachel Browne Theatre.

WCD Endowment Fund - To provide a stable and growing source of income to sustain the future operation of Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers. Administered by The Winnipeg Foundation, this fund pools the charitable gifts of many donors into a permanent, income-earning endowment fund to sustain the Company’s annual operation.

In May of 2008 the campaign was declared a success and unofficially wrapped up with the last show of the 07/08 season. Our venue was renamed The Rachel Browne Theatre and the donor recognition window was unveiled as was our new neon sign. Quite fittingly the first performance in the theatre was from Rachel Browne herself who performed in her duet, Flowering. (Read more about that event.)

The campaign will officially close August 29th , 2008. At the time of this writing The Rachel Browne Legacy Campaign has secured a total of $149,442.00 in donations.

The Rachel Browne Legacy Campaign Committee

Honourary Chairs

Ruth Asper,

Annette Browne

Miriam Browne

 

Co-Chairs

Richard Irish

Fred Penner C.M.

 

Honourary Members

Gail Asper

Kathleen Richardson C.C., O.M.

 

Members