Consultant - Sustainability Plan

Company Overview

TNL is dedicated to the creation and development of new plays for and about the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. TNL is a registered charity with an annual operating budget of $1.4M that is derived from public funding sources and ticket sales.

TNL operates the Gros Morne Theatre Festival, a repertory summer theatre festival that operates from May - September, features up to 10 original productions, and attracts 8K-12K patrons. This festival has become a cultural institution within Newfoundland and Labrador, and now employs a seasonal workforce of 50 people which includes artists from across the country.

The Gros Morne Theatre Festival began in Cow Head in the 1990s, and originally operated out of the Warehouse Theatre – a converted warehouse owned by an accommodator within Cow Head, leased to TNL at no cost. This business partnership helped draw tourists to Cow Head, part of the northern enclave of communities within Gros Morne National Park.

In 2016 TNL secured investments from federal and provincial governments in order to build a performing arts facility in Cow Head that would be the new home of TNL and the Gros Morne Theatre Festival. In 2021 TNL opened the Nurse Myra Bennett Centre for the Performing Arts, a $10 million state of the art performing arts facility. This new facility features two performance spaces, a 178 mainstage theatre and a 71 seat studio space, in addition to vast production spaces (dedicated shop spaces for carpentry, wardrobe, props) and a commercial kitchen.

The Gros Morne Theatre Festival is an anchor for the facility and the community of Cow Head, operating every summer from May - September.

Scope of Work

TNL is seeking proposals from qualified individuals or firms to develop a long term sustainability plan for its new performing arts facility. The plan will focus on the development of new earned revenues sources that utilize the facility from October - April, and can offset operating costs associated with running the building. The plan will identify leads, prospective clients, partners, and a staffing model related to the development of all revenue streams.

The sustainability plan shall include a detailed financial analysis of the organization that outlines short and long term targets required to maintain the performing arts facility. This financial analysis will include anticipated capital expenditures related to facility maintenance for the next 10 years, and revenue sources required to meet these needs.

The individual or firm undertaking the creation of a long term sustainability plan for the Nurse Myra Bennett Centre shall work alongside TNL’s senior staff and board of directors throughout the plan’s development. The consultant will have access to all financial reports, facility information, and TNL staff during the development of their plan. The consultant will also have access to reports generated in 2024 that explored the development of revenue streams from educational institutions and external rentals, as well as a feasibility study on the creation of a separate corporate entity for the Nurse Myra Bennett Centre.

Timeframe

March 6th 2026: call for proposals opens. TNL accepts questions regarding the proposal and selection process from bidders.

March 16th 2026: question period closes. All questions and answers are shared with bidders.

April 3nd 2026: request for proposals submission deadline.

April 17th 2026: consultant selected by TNL board and senior staff. All applicants are notified of the results of the selection process.

May 2026: consultations between the consultant and senior staff take place.

September 1st 2026: a first draft of the sustainability plan is delivered to TNL.

September 30th 2026: TNL Board and senior staff provide feedback on the first draft of the sustainability plan.

November 16th 2026: A final draft of the sustainability plan is delivered to TNL.

December 2026: The consultant presents the completed sustainability plan to TNL’s board and membership at a public meeting.

Proposal Requirements

Proposals shall include (at a minimum) the following information, clearly referencing each section below in your response:

1) A Consultant Profile that includes the Consultant/Firm’s name, address, history, qualifications, and years of experience. Applicants should highlight relevant experience in business plan development for not-for-profits, arts organizations, and cultural centres. Applicants are encouraged to comment on what differentiates their services from other providers.

2) A Service Process Overview that outlines the Consultant/Firm’s process for delivering services that are customized for, and responsive to, TNL’s specific needs. This overview should reference the Consultant/Firm’s approach to developing long term business plans.

3) A detailed project plan identifying the approach and methodology being proposed by the Consultant.

4) A free quote to the complete Long Term Sustainability Plan for TNL, that spans 10 years. The quote should include a schedule of billing and identify any out of pocket expenses the Consultant anticipates will need to be covered.

5) Two significant, relevant, industry project references that include contact information, and a description of the services offered. References will only be contacted for proposals that move into the final stages of the selection process.

Budget

TNL has reserved a budget of $60,000 for this project. This budget encompasses the entire project, including any travel or accommodation expenses. TNL is not limited to selecting the proposal with the lowest bid.

Evaluation criteria

TNL will evaluate proposals based on the following set of criteria outlined below:

Weight Criterion

20% Experience in developing long-term business plans that outline growth targets and identify opportunities for revenue diversification

20% Experience working in the not-for-profit sector and/or working with cultural organizations who own/operate facilities.

10% Experience working with organizations/companies within Newfoundland and Labrador and/or experience working with organizations in rural areas

30% Value and feasibility of the proposed project plan to meet TNL’s needs

10% Fees and Pricing

10% Quality of references

Submissions

Submissions shall be received by no later than April 3rd 2026 at 12:00pm. All submissions, questions about the selection process and proposals may be sent to TNL’s artistic producer, Nicholas Leno: ap@theatrenewfoundland.com.