Help Save the Arts in Rochester, NY

[jason]

Bread & Water Theatre is being asked to get an entertainment center
license by the RPD and by extension the city of Rochester. This
license costs $425-$475 and is renewed every January 1st. The purpose
of the license is to facilitate inspections of the applicant to ensure
they are in compliance with local codes. BWT's venue is already
inspected on a regular basis and there is no need for a second round
of inspections with such a high dollar cost. The ordinance they cite
is commonly used to regulate nightclubs and adult entertainment
venues.

Payment of the $425-$475 fee could severely curtail BWT's efforts to
bring new theatre to the Rochester area. If the fee is not paid, we
risk being shut down.

THIS ISSUE NOT ONLY EFFECTS BWT, BUT ALSO ALL OTHER BUSINESSES WITHIN
THE CITY LIMITS. Any organization that does the following can be
asked to pay this fee.: poetry/book readings, music performances,
events with DJ's, theatre performances, performance art and any other
sort of function that can loosely be described as entertainment.

To sign a petition supporting the arts in Rochester, NY visit
https://www.change.org/petitions/help-save-the-arts-in-rochester-ny

To donate to Bread & Water Theatre (tax deductible) visit:
http://www.breadandwatertheatre.org/support/donate.htm

Founded in 2000, Bread & Water Theatre is committed to making the arts
accessible and affordable to a broadbased audience and acting as a
positive agent of change in its community. Under the artistic
direction of J.R. Teeter, BWT develops theatre that speaks to our
living, evolving, and dramatically-changing world through new works of
drama and aspires to be a major force in American theatre, providing
audiences with challenging contemporary drama and innovative community
outreach programs.