Spotlight on Imperial Theatre

SAINT JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK--(Marketwired - March 15, 2016) - Department of Canadian Heritage

Wayne Long, Member of Parliament (Saint John-Rothesay), today announced funding for the Imperial Theatre. He made this announcement on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, and the Honourable Navdeep Singh Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

Funding will allow the Imperial Theatre to preserve the exterior of the historical building and carry out a complete lighting retrofit for the theatre. Through this project, the Imperial Theatre will become a leader in energy efficiency and lighting technologies that are eco-friendly and cost-effective.

The Department of Canadian Heritage is providing multi-year funding totalling $850,000 under the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund to support the renovation Building the Future project. ACOA is providing $200,000 under its Innovative Communities Fund.

Quick Facts

• The Imperial Theatre reaches an annual audience of up to 100,000 through its regular programming, in addition to 75,000 students for its school series and young audience programming.
• The Theatre offers a variety of presentations, including live theatre, musical performances, film and comedy.
• Provincial arts organizations and other community groups also make use of the theatre facilities.
• Government of Canada funding of $1.05 million, through Canadian Heritage and ACOA, will support major renovations and upgrades to the Imperial Theatre.
• This federal funding is a significant contribution to the Imperial Theatre's "Facing Forward" Capital Campaign, which was launched as part of today's announcement.

Quotes

"Cultural spaces such as the Imperial Theatre are places where Canadians can be inspired by the arts and heritage that define us and bring us together. They link communities across provinces-and across the country. The Government of Canada is proud to partner with the Imperial Theatre as it works to improve the quality of life in the community, while also creating jobs and encouraging tourism."

- The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

"The Government of Canada is focused on change and delivering real results for Canadians, and we know that building a strong country begins in our local communities. Saint John's Imperial Theatre has long been a cultural hub for the Saint John area, attracting local and international performers and bringing growth and far-reaching benefits to the entire region."

- The Honourable Navdeep Singh Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA

"The Imperial Theatre is a community jewel that has been offering cultural and artistic experiences for over 100 years. Thanks to this generous funding, this space will continue to showcase the work and talent of local artists and special guests, for the enjoyment of residents and visitors."

- Wayne Long, Member of Parliament (Saint John-Rothesay)

"Imperial Theatre is thrilled to have the support of Canada's federal government for this important project. The local, national and international performers who bring their art to the people of Saint John, the many community users of this building and the people of this city treasure the Imperial, and this will help us keep the doors open for another 100 years."

- Lee Bolton, Executive Director, Imperial Theatre

Associated Links

Canada Cultural Spaces Fund

Innovative Communities Fund

Imperial Theatre

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