A Few Words About
The Firm
Schick Shiner and Associates Limited is an integrated consulting and management firm
Schick Shiner and Associates Limited is an integrated consulting and management firm which offers a full range of professional services related to the design and operation of theatres, art centres, galleries and other cultural venues. The experience of the firm is grounded with 39 years of practical knowledge in hands-on operation of theatre and cultural facilities. This experience is augmented by years of consulting in the planning, development and design of these operations.
As “specialist consultants” we have provided, over many projects, a wide range of services including the development of building programmes, functional analysis, site selection and community needs assessment, plus theatre technical equipment specifications, performance specifications for catwalks, stages, sightlines and overall design criteria for theatres. We have undertaken feasibility, design and management studies as well as projecting capital costs and operating costs. In addition to planning and design services the firm has provided general management and project management services to a number of organizations. We have completed 300 projects since the spring of 1992 in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, British Columbia, Newfoundland, the United States and the Middle East.
The combination of the consulting and management activities with operational experience has given Schick Shiner and Associates a unique background which few arts consultants possess. The detailed understanding of day-to-day operations with the appreciation of the ‘big picture’ has given the firm the ability to make meaningful and practical recommendations and observations.
Richard Schick
Richard Schick
Richard Schick, a principal of the firm, is widely recognized for his achievements as a theatre administrator and management/design consultant. He served as General Manager of the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Alberta from September/90 to April/92 as well as being a principal of Schick Shiner and Associates. The Citadel Theatre is Canada’s third largest producing theatre company and in those years had a six million dollar annual budget. The Citadel Theatre contains five theatres, a winter garden and related production spaces and during his tenure produced sixteen shows in each season with a staff of 150.
From June/1985 to September/1990 he served as the Producer/General Manager of the Gateway Theatre in Richmond, B.C. and was responsible for that theatre’s outstanding growth and development. For five years Richard Schick provided artistic and administrative leadership and was able to develop the operation from an under-used community facility to a theatre which encompassed community and professional operations.
When Richard Schick left to take the position at the Citadel, the Gateway Theatre had expanded its operation to include two performing spaces and three art galleries. The facility was fully booked for the entire year, produced its own professional theatre series and operated for the last three years with a surplus. Prior to coming to the Gateway Theatre Richard Schick was the Production Manager of the Citadel Theatre for ten years.
Over 32 years as an arts administrator Richard Schick has gained experience in all aspects of theatre management from board development and marketing to technical direction and box office management. These skills and experiences have been invaluable to Richard Schick as a management consultant. He has been active in the field of theatre consulting for the past 18 years most recently as a partner in Schick/Shiner.
Richard Schick has travelled extensively and has comprehensive knowledge of theatre operations and facility development in North America and Europe. In 1982 he undertook a Canada Council funded project to study and photograph British Theatre Architecture and has one of the largest collection of images of its kind in the world. He has given many talks and lectures on theatre architecture and facility development.
