Tourism, Culture and
Recreation
January 20, 2010
Arts
and Culture Centres Spruced up to the Tune of $1.5
Million
The Honourable Terry
French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, was
in Corner Brook today to announce more than $1.5 million
for infrastructure upgrades and equipment purchases for
regional Arts and Culture Centres across the province.
"Our six regional Arts
and Culture Centres play a vital role in the celebration
and promotion of Newfoundland and Labrador's rich
cultural tradition," said Minister French. "They are
venues for our own experienced, professional performers,
as well as for young, aspiring artists who are just
beginning to discover their talents, and their place,
within our flourishing cultural scene. They are also
places where Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are
introduced to the very best national and international
acts, and entertainers from around the world who broaden
our appreciation for a wide variety of cultural
expression."
Minister French said
investing in infrastructural upgrades to the province's
Arts and Culture Centres not only protects provincial
investment in these facilities, but also provides a more
safe, comfortable and inviting environment for audiences
and performers alike.
"As a government, we are
committed to making our Arts and Culture Centres even
more accessible, and more relevant, to the hundreds of
communities they serve," said Minister French. "We want
them to be places where people continue to come, and
want to come, to enjoy incredible performances, both now
and long into the future."
Today's announcement
included a total of $600,000 invested in new seating and
carpeting for Arts and Culture Centres in Corner Brook
and Stephenville (both of which have recently been
installed), and for the Joseph R. Smallwood Arts and
Culture Centre in Gander, where the refurbishing is
expected to be completed in June.
It also includes $755,000
for the centre in St. John's – including $325,000 for
renovations to the Basement Theatre; $100,000 for
planned electrical upgrades in Labrador West; and,
$10,000 for each of the Arts and Culture Centres across
the province (excluding St. John's) for stage equipment.
A complete list of recently approved infrastructure
investments can be found in the backgrounder below.
Previous Arts and Culture
Centre infrastructure investments include more than
$918,000 to install new roofing, siding and windows at
the Stephenville Centre, and $122,000 for the
replacement of the orchestra shell in St. John's.
This is in addition to
the more than $25 million in new funding invested since
the introduction of the province cultural strategy,
Creative Newfoundland and Labrador (2006).
For more information
about the province's Arts and Culture Centres, please
visit:
www.artsandculturecentre.com
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Media contact:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0585, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Provincial Arts and Culture Infrastructure Investments
Region |
Amount |
Project |
Corner Brook |
$200,000 |
Replacement of seating and carpet in main
theatre. |
Labrador West |
$100,000 |
Planned electrical upgrading |
Stephenville |
$200,000 |
Replacement of seating and carpet in main
theatre. |
Gander |
$200,000 |
Replacement of seating and carpet in main
theatre. |
St.
John's |
$755,000 |
Seven projects, including: renovations to the
Basement Theatre ($325,000); renovations to the
box office ($135,000); replacement of a fire
curtain ($70,000); replacement of the stage
drapery ($70,000); replacement of the stage
floor ($60,000); planned increased wheelchair
access ($50,000); and, upgrades to on-stage
rigging system ($40,000) |
Labrador West, Stephenville, Corner Brook, Grand
Falls-Windsor, and Gander |
$50,000 |
$10,000 each for stage equipment (vertical man
lifts) |
2010 01 20
11:10 a.m.
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