IN THE NEWS

Georgia Straight article about $125,000 funding

July 20, 2017 – The Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre has the $250,000 it needs for major upgrades to its increasingly in-demand performance space. The centre just received $125,000 from the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Canada Cultural Spaces Fund for the renovations, an amount it will pair with $125,000 from its own fundraising to proceed. [Full article…]

New Support for Artists & Audiences: The Roundhouse receives $125,000 from Canada Cultural Spaces Fund

Vancouver, BC | July 20, 2017 – The Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre has received $125,000 support from the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Canada Cultural Spaces Fund to renovate the Roundhouse Performance Centre. With the total cost of upgrades set at $250,000, the federal funding is a welcome addition to the $125,000 the Roundhouse Society raised through provincial, municipal, corporate and private donations.

One of a handful of fully-equipped theatres in Vancouver in the 200 seats range, the Performance Centre is considered an ideal space for smaller arts and culture presentations, and hosts an average of 135 performances a year. After 20 years of heavy use, the Roundhouse must replace its seating and upgrade technical equipment.

Renovations begin mid-August 2017. Planned improvements include:

• new seats that increase audience capacity from 175 to 200
• an automated, retractable seating system
• relocated technical services to improve sight lines for audiences, artists, and technicians
• a modernized sound and lighting system

The Roundhouse has a mandate to promote accessible arts and culture for Vancouver citizens and visitors: it forms production partnerships with local arts organizations and community groups, offers reasonable non-profit rental rates, and provides professional technical support. Audiences can expect a far more comfortable and immersive arts experience.

Arts and culture companies that partner with the Roundhouse include: PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Music on Main, Shari Ulrich’s Songbird North, Vancouver International Dance Festival, New Works, Talking Stick Festival, Secret Lantern Society, Vancouver Comic Arts Festival, Reel 2 Real, Diwali Festival, and Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre.

“This investment in the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre demonstrates our government’s ongoing commitment to developing and improving access to cultural institutions for all Canadians,” said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage. “I am thrilled that this support will allow the Roundhouse Performance Centre to increase its capacity and better serve the community.”

Andrew Dilts, President of the Roundhouse Society adds: “The Roundhouse extends its heartfelt thanks to our partners for their contribution to the Performance Centre upgrade project. When completed, the project will provide improved access to cultural and artistic programming for thousands of people every year.” He continues, “The Roundhouse is especially grateful to the Department of Canadian Heritage, the BC Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, and the City of Vancouver for their financial support.” The Roundhouse Performance Centre renovation is funded in part by the Government of Canada.

The Roundhouse looks forward to welcoming the citizens of Vancouver to the newly renovated Performance Centre in September 2017.

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CONTACT
Hanne Lene Dalgleish, Roundhouse Communications Coordinator
hl.dalgleish@vancouver.ca | 604.713.0872

Supporting Documents

Canada Cultural Spaces Fund acceptance letter from the Hon. Mélanie Joly (pdf)

Roundhouse News Release about Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (pdf)

Donate to the Name a Seat and Park Your Caboose campaign

Name a Seat and Park Your Caboose page (information)

Name a Seat and Park Your Caboose donation page (donation)

 

CONTACT INFO

Hanne Lene Dalgleish, Communications Coordinator
hl.dalgleish@vancouver.ca | 604.713.1872

Marie Lopes, Arts Programmer
marie.lopes@vancouver.ca | 604.713.1806

Fraser McElroy, Special Events Programmer
fraser.mcelroy@vancouver.ca | 604.713.1864