Setting the stage for success
Positioning our region to attract talent to our workforce.
The Performing Arts Centre will significantly contribute to our region’s economic development, tourism strategy and ability to attract and retain talented individuals to live and work here.
A full-scale Performing Arts Centre will undoubtedly move more local and non-local money into the regional economy. It will also strengthen our position as an intelligent province and attract talent to the workforce. Culture is an important contributor to attracting, retaining, and supporting residents and businesses. It creates an environment in which creativity and innovation are constant. This is important not only for attracting talent to Fredericton and the capital region but also to the communities all along the Wolastoq/St. John River Valley.
“The new Performing Arts Centre will have a positive economic impact for businesses, creating more activity and enhancing the vibrancy of our downtown.”
Bruce McCormack, past General Manager, Downtown Fredericton Inc.
But the positive impacts of the new Performing Arts Centre on our community go well beyond economic benefits.
Arts and culture have an incredible ability to captivate, empower and enrich people’s lives.
Performing artists are central to this, sparking our imagination, creating new bridges of understanding and providing new perspectives on the world. Research shows very clearly that the arts promote mental health and foster adaptive responses to stress.
The arts also allow for sharing of ideas, which leads to solving societal challenges. They enhance people’s sense of place and pride through participation and feeling more connected to the community. It all adds up to a better human experience and existence – and that’s ever-important in our modern world.
A leader in building stronger communities across New Brunswick
A full 50% of the current Playhouse audience lives outside of the City of Fredericton, in particular along the Wolastoq/St. John River Valley, but also across the province. The Playhouse, combined with the Capitol Theatre in Moncton and the Imperial Theatre in Saint John - work together as a provincial network to provide diverse and world-class live performances for New Brunswickers.
The new Performing Arts Centre is designed to be a right-sized key piece of that network that will attract quality acts to the province as well as provide appropriate space for local artists. This kind of venue - together with the complete network of theatres - strengthens our position as an intelligent province, attracting and retaining talent, contributing to the economy and culture and sense of connectedness. This spectacular Performing Arts Centre will take a leadership role in building stronger communities and a stronger New Brunswick.