Four Canadian Foundations give unprecedented support to Performing Arts Centre
The Encore! community campaign to support the construction of the new Performing Arts Centre in Fredericton continues to surpass its goal of raising $10 million thanks to generous gifts from four iconic Canadian Foundations.
The McCain Foundation, Harrison McCain Foundation, Hewitt Foundation and The Molson Foundation have all made significant gifts that will ensure New Brunswickers will enjoy a spectacular, modern hub for generations to come, where community can gather cross-culturally to learn, share experiences and connect with one another.
Tim Yerxa, Executive Director of Fredericton Playhouse Inc., the non-profit operating the Playhouse and now the Performing Arts Centre, says that support from these foundations demonstrates their commitment to a strengthened community.
“Performing arts gives people a sense of connectedness and allows for sharing of ideas, which leads to solving societal challenges. As our region evolves into a larger, more diverse, more internationally connected community, it’s essential that we provide cultural experiences that spark our imagination, creating new bridges of understanding and providing new perspectives on the world. That’s our goal with the new Performing Arts Centre: to help strengthen our community and region by providing a hub for entertainment, learning and exchange of ideas. Gaining the support of The McCain Foundation, Harrison McCain Foundation, Hewitt Foundation and The Molson Foundation means that others believe in this goal as well. It’s amazing, and we’re incredibly appreciative.”
With two theatres, a studio, a small amphitheatre and huge lobby spaces that will be open day and night, the Performing Arts Centre will serve as a hub that makes New Brunswick a go-to corner of the world to live, work, learn and play. Just as the Playhouse does now, the Performing Arts Centre will serve an area and population that is significantly larger than Fredericton, including communities up and down the Wolastoq River Valley and across the province from Geary to Minto to Doaktown to Florenceville-Bristol to Harvey – and everywhere in between.
