Fundraising campaign aims to buy grand piano for Inlet Theatre, but Port Moody needs to build it a home

Inlet Theatre has the best acoustics of any venue in Port Moody, but it is missing a key component: a high-end grand piano.

The Inlet Theatre Music Series is starting a fundraising campaign to raise the required funds for the pricey instrument, but they need help from the city.

“When we have pianists perform here, we have to add an electric piano,” said Eric Hedekar, speaking on behalf of a delegation to council on April 9. “That’s akin to holding a cooking competition and bringing in only microwaves.”

The delegation is not requesting the city fork over funds for the piano – which can range upwards of $100,000 – but to cover the costs of a storage facility.

It’s not a new request. Grand piano campaigns date back over a decade, at least.

Yarilo Contemporary Music Society approached council with a similar fundraising idea in 2013, which was declined due to storage concerns.

Staff reported back in 2014 on what it would cost to build a proper facility for the piano, according to the delegation.

The first option was to construct a physical building extension at the rear of the stage. While it would be more flexible, it would also be significantly more expensive.

The second option was to install a hoist to lift the piano off the stage. This was recommended by staff, and estimated to cost $40,000 in 2014.

Council opted to not act on the recommendation due to a lack of funds raised, according to Hedekar, who described it as “horse-cart problem.”

He added there have been numerous requests over the last 10 years, and demand was not going away.

The delegation brought multiple letters of endorsement from a wide range of arts groups in the community.

“These letters did not take coaxing. They flooded in within hours of us reaching out and asking. Hours,” he said. ‘It’s a longstanding need in our community.” 

Freedom of the City award recipient Robert Simons spoke in support on behalf of Port Moody Art Centre, Port Moody Foundation, and the Yarilo Contemporary Music Society.

Simons said a small ad hoc group has already done a lot of work to re-kickstart the fundraising efforts.

He said in the past, the city has always raised concerns that Port Moody lacked the funds, space, and charitable capacity.

“Well, I think you’ve got an active community now that’s prepared to do the fundraising,” Simons said. “We’ve already been in contact with this group, and indicated that we would be prepared to work with them.”

Owning a grand piano would raise Inlet Theatre’s reputation as an arts and performance venue, and attract higher caliber talent to Port Moody, according to Hedekar.

He also claimed the city’s expense would eventually pay for itself, because music schools and instructors would rent the facility weekly if there was a proper piano to play on.

Maintenance costs related to weekly tuning of the piana are typically borne by renters, added Hedekar.

“A quality grand piano is something that would bring inspiration to the youth of our city,” Hedekar said. “If I had such an opportunity in my youth, I probably would have practised more.”

The delegation said they had several fundraising ideas, and would provide tax receipts to donors, seek out corporate sponsors and grants, and allow for recurring donations.

Coun. Diana Dilworth, who sat on council in 2013, thanked the delegation for its persistence, and agreed Port Moody now seems like it has a greater ability to fundraise.

“We are becoming much more a hub for musical events in Port Moody,” Dilworth said. “We have people coming from out of town to fill this theater.”

She moved for the delegation’s request to be placed on a subsequent council agenda, and for staff to report back on the various studies and background related to the piano project over the last decade.

The motion passed unanimously.