AUDITIONS AND SUMMER PROGRAMS
EMPLOYMENT
FEASIBILITY STUDY RFP
Request For Proposal for a
Programmatic Feasibility Study for
The Gloversville Theatre Corporation (The Glove Theatre)
Please submit three (3) physical copies and one electronic copy to the following address:
James Hannahs, President of the Board of Directors
theglovetheatre@gmail.com
The Gloversville Theatre Corporation (The Glove Theatre)
PO Box 566, Gloversville
New York 12078
518-752-4611
Submissions will be received until June 15, 2023
ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND:
The Gloversville Theatre Corporation is a 501(c)3 non-profit located in Gloversville, New York. The Corporation was founded in 1995 and organized to acquire, repair, renovate, and activate the historic Glove Theatre.
Locally known as The Glove, the theater was built in 1914 as a vaudeville house, designed by Utica-based architect Linn Kinne. It was acquired by J. Meyer and Louis Schine in 1920 and served as the flagship location for the nationwide Schine Theatre Circuit, hosting a variety of live performances, first-run movies, and community events. The Glove stood prominently as a symbol of entertainment, prosperity, and nostalgia for community members, until falling victim to the virus that plagued movie houses all over the country. Like other urban theaters in the region (Schenectady’s Proctors, Rome’s Capitol, Amsterdam’s Palace), The Glove faced neglect during the Urban Renewal movement in the 60s, and 70s, and ultimately shuttered in 1971.
After sitting vacant for nearly 25 years, The Glove faced imminent demolition due to its condition; the ceiling had partially collapsed and a large ice pillar formed, thawing into a 3-foot standing pool of water. A group of community members, the same that shared fond memories of The Glove, bound together to form The Gloversville Theatre Corporation destined to save the theater from demolition and return it to its former glory. They not only stopped the cause for demolition and acquired the building, but also bootstrapped community support to invest back into the structure.
Today, the theater still operates as a performing arts venue. The organization hosted hundreds of live theatrical performances, concerts, movies, and community events to keep The Glove active and engaging. A board of nine (9) directors manage the organization’s operations and long-term planning goals. In 2022, the organization hired a General Manager to handle the day-to-day operations in order to shift resources and focus to long-term objectives. In December 2022, The Glove was awarded $1.993 million as part of New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative for capital improvements needed to modernize the facility and maximize guest experience. In the first quarter of 2023, the Glove Theatre hired a Facilities Manager in response to an organic needs assessment.
SHORT PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The Gloversville Theatre Corporation (GTC) is accepting proposals from qualified theater consultants to conduct a feasibility study that will identify and outline the historic Glove Theatre’s future programmatic context most suitable for the organization’s footprint and its served community. The successful applicant will make suggestions and recommendations after analyzing a series of scenarios dependent on the analytics of the local and regional economy and market.
GTC is managing a large capital improvement project in the theater’s structure with the best interest of offering the most feasible programming possible for the community. In order to properly implement successful programs and identify resources to assist in fundraising efforts, GTC wishes to explore the best programmatic options that can be implemented now and in the future.
Total funding for the Feasibility Study will be $20,000 from the Gloversville Theatre Corporation.
SCOPE OF SERVICE:
The selected consultant will be responsible for:
I. Feasibility Study and Market Survey
● Collect basic data and map current venues within the Southern Adirondacks and Mohawk Valley regions, identify potential competing facilities within catchment areas, and evaluate identified existing facilities.
● Identify local stakeholders and key strategic partners.
● Identify gaps in service areas and potential opportunities provided by a shared arts venue. ● Provide realistic assessment of the area’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT analysis) to support a shared arts venue.
● Develop a preliminary report that summarizes the above-referenced information within the public, nonprofit, corporate and private sectors in the region, and identifies areas of deficiency, duplication and potential opportunities for collaboration.
● Developing a Master Plan based on program coordination with Project Partners and identifying programmatic concepts.
II. Forecasting and Benchmarking
● Summarize key demand generator trends and overall growth prospects for the market. ● Provide history and expected future trends for arts venues (up to 800 seats). Evaluate the impact of projections for demographic shifts, changes or growth. Identify unmet space needs for existing and potential users and partners, trends and future needs for the arts in Southern Adirondacks and Mohawk Valley regions.
● Identify peer markets. The focus should be on similarly-situated communities that have recently opened or expanded performing and visual arts venues (preferably in New York State, excluding
NYC metro area).
● Profile trends in population growth, audience development and compare competition of comparable regional arts venues.
● Propose staff and operating structure/best practices for sustainable operations, based on other venue operating models and best practices for these types of facilities.
● Provide an analysis of the competitive arts offerings from other arts organizations within the surrounding regions.
III. Economic Analysis and Pro Forma
● Completing an analysis of local and regional audiences and venues.
● Identifying gaps in the market and discerning which programs would fill these gaps. ● Provide insights into business and commercial development that may affect the ongoing viability of the venue.
● Identify potential diverse revenue generation for GTC.
● Present findings and provide a detailed understanding of the demand for comparable-sized shared arts facilities within a regional context.
● As needed, present findings/recommendations to GTC leadership and other key stakeholders.
DELIVERABLES:
● Twelve (12) printed color copies of the Feasibility Study;
● An electronic version of the Feasbility Study in DOC and PDF format;
● A presentation of the Feasibility Study to The Gloversville Theatre Corporation; and ● All metadata, analysis, and notes.
PROPOSED SCHEDULE:
April 5, 2023: RFP Released
June 15, 2023: Proposals due
July 14, 2023: Consultant selected and awarded
August 1, 2023: Start Date
January 8, 2024: Feasibility Study Completed, Presented to the Gloversville Theatre Corporation
SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS:
Each applicant must submit as part of their proposal an outline of the process they anticipate following and the proposed schedule to complete the project by the end of the period indicated. Proposals shall be relevant and concise, and include samples of previous relevant work. Proposers are encouraged to articulate how you might incorporate or utilize local resources/expertise, particularly from GTC stakeholders. Outline the non-profit fee levels, if any. Please itemize your fee, and provide estimated fee and hourly rates for those who will provide the services. Please provide an estimate of the anticipated reimbursable expenses.
Include a list of no less than three (3) references for similar or like projects, including client contact name, title, email address and phone number.
Proposers must provide the following:
● Three (3) original hardcopy proposal, mailed
● One (1) electronic copy emailed in PDF format to theglovetheatre@gmail.com or delivered with a proposal on a USB flash drive.
PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL AND FORMAT:
Each submission should address and supply every listed item included in the project requirements and objectives and include the following items:
1. Cover Letter containing:
a. Name, mailing and street address, email, and phone number for firm
b. Name, title and contact information leading RFP submission
2. Statement of Qualifications:
a. Qualification summary of company/firm
b. Qualifications of applicable staff contributing to this project
c. Qualifications of subcontracted firms/consultants involved with delivering the project objectives
3. Project Approach: Applicants should outline steps taken to achieve the listed project requirements including:
a. Project scope of work
b. Task list and associated responsible contacts
c. Project Timeline
4. Fees and Insurance:
a. Provide breakdown of the fees
b. Itemized travel and expendable fees
c. Structured fee changes in scope of work
5. References: Submissions should show prior success for similar feasibility study. References should include:
a. Name of Theatre
b. Soliciting entity
c. Date of study
d. Facility capacity, square footage, and operating budget
e. Location of project along with respective market population
f. Name, title, and contact information for soliciting organization
g. Ownership structure of soliciting organization
SELECTION PROCESS:
Any and all exceptions must be clearly stated in the proposal. Failure to set orth any item in the specifications or deliverables without taking exception may be grounds for rejection. GTC reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, and to waive any irregularity or informality in any proposal or in the RFP process, as long as, in the judgment of GTC, such action will not negate fair competition and will permit proper comparative evaluation of the proposal submitted.
All proposals will be reviewed by GTC committee members to determine responsiveness. Non-responsive proposals will be rejected without evaluation. For vendors that satisfy the minimum requirements, GTC will evaluate proposals based on the following evaluation criteria, separate or combined in some manner, and not necessarily listed in order of significance:
1. The vendor’s general approach to providing the services required as described within this RFP. 2. The vendor’s ability to adequately document applicable experience in successfully completing contracts of a similar size and scope to the project addressed by this RFP.
QUESTIONS:
Any questions on this Request For Proposal (RFP) can be directed to James Hannahs, President of the Board of Directors, at 518-752-4611 or theglovetheatre@gmail.com.
The Glove Theatre 