EDMONTON, August 13, 2021

The Government of Canada understands how essential cultural infrastructure is for the well-being and vitality of our communities, and is committed to ensuring that cultural groups and arts presenters across the country have the support they need to showcase professional artistic experiences to Canadians, and to promote the talent and innovation of our artists and creators.

Today, the Honourable Jim Carr, Special Representative for the Prairies, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced more than $4.2 million in support of three cultural infrastructure projects in Edmonton. This investment is being delivered through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund.

The Francis Winspear Centre for Music, more commonly known as the Winspear Centre, will receive $3,167,071 for the construction and outfitting of a new 550-seat Music Box concert hall. The Music Box will be located within the Tommy Banks Centre for Musical Creativity, a new annex of the Winspear Centre. Funding will support the purchase and installation of specialized equipment, including sound treatment baffling and banners; sound, projection, communication and lighting equipment; and the installation of a flexible, powered seating system.

Rapid Fire Theatre will receive $800,000 to convert the main floor of a former telephone museum, located in Edmonton’s historic Old Strathcona neighbourhood, into a 200-seat theatre. The renovated space will include a lobby, theatre, tech booth, stage, green room, backstage storage and workshop space. The main floor will also include a box office, staff offices and a meeting room. Rapid Fire Theatre has performed in many venues across Edmonton over the years; this project represents the first time the organization will be able to customize a dedicated performance space for its presentation needs.

The City of Edmonton will benefit from $308,159 for pre-construction work for the Iron Works building, a 36,000-square-foot facility constructed in 1909, located in The Quarters Downtown. Funding will support consultation activities on the design and outfitting of the building, development of final architectural and engineering drawings, implementation of the construction tendering process, and final design costing. Once complete, the main tenants of the Iron Works building will provide a broad range of services to artists, and arts and festival organizations across Edmonton.