-Upgrades will benefit patrons and staff, and will improve the overall visitor experience-

A major infrastructure investment by the federal government will result in an enhanced patron experience, and better systems for staff at Confederation Centre of the Arts.

The $1.707 million investment from ACOA, Canadian Heritage, and the Centre supports major facility upgrades including new track lighting and a new elevator in the gallery, new IT hardware for staff, electrical upgrades, updated audio-visual equipment, and other investments that help to modernize the facility, and improve the overall visitor and staff experience. It also includes funding to support the conceptual design phase of a revitalization and renovation project being proposed by the Centre.

“Confederation Centre of the Arts is one of the country’s leading cultural institutions, and a key contributor to the Island’s tourism industry,” notes Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown, speaking on behalf the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA, and the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage. “Investments like the ones announced today help ensure that the Centre can continue to deliver the very best in arts and heritage programming – while boosting the economy, and supporting many local businesses and jobs.”

“We have seen many great creations being born in Confederation Centre of the Arts over the years. Creative spaces like Confederation Centre are vital for our communities and cultural sector becoming a hub that brings ideas to the stage, creates stories, and offers unique experiences for the public. That is why the Government of Canada continues to fund such projects that strengthens our economy and enrich our communities”, comments Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage.

“On behalf of all of us at Confederation Centre of the Arts, I’d like to express sincere thanks to ACOA, Canadian Heritage and MP Sean Casey for providing this very timely, and much needed investment in the Centre,” says Confederation Centre of the Arts CEO Steve Bellamy. “As a charitable organization that serves the local, regional, and national communities, it can be very challenging to find the funding necessary to make major investments in infrastructure and technology. This investment was crucial for the replacement and critical upgrades of things like the elevator and track lighting in the Gallery, audio-visual equipment in the theatre, outdated IT hardware and infrastructure throughout the Centre, and many other items that were long overdue for replacement or upgrade.”

The infrastructure investment was made possible thanks to a non-repayable contribution of $746,300 from ACOA through the Regional Innovation Ecosystem (REGI) for immediate and short-term upgrades of technical equipment, including: sound, lighting, air/temperature, accessibility features, and management software.

ACOA provided an additional non-repayable contribution of $100,000 through the Innovative Communities Fund to support conceptual designs for a proposed interior and exterior revitalization to Confederation Centre that aims to improve the public aesthetic, traffic flow, and accessibility.

Another $647,587 was provided by Canadian Heritage through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) to support the creation of conceptual design plans for the revitalization of the Centre and  to acquire specialized technical equipment for the Mainstage, the art gallery, and concourse space.

The remaining $213,113 was funded by Confederation Centre of the Arts.

Photo cutline: Exterior Confederation Centre photo (submitted); the Confederation Centre Art Gallery (Brady McCloskey photo); the Mainstage Theatre at Confederation Centre (Heather Ogg).