The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of helping official language minority communities create and maintain strong institutions. It is often through art and creativity that these communities can express and understand themselves. Today, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, announced $2.2 million in funding to support Centaur Theatre's modernization project.
Centaur Theatre is an iconic Quebec institution that plays an essential role in Montréal's cultural scene. With this funding, it will be able to completely upgrade its infrastructure. Specifically, the funds will make it possible to:
- replace the ventilation, heating and electrical systems;
- replace the plumbing;
- modify the main entrance to improve accessibility;
- raise the height of the roof to accommodate new stage equipment;
- repair the foundation;
- replace damaged exterior windows; and
- bring the sprinklers and emergency exit up to current standards.
The Government of Canada's Community Spaces Fund support is in addition to the funding the theatre has received since 2014-2015, through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund. This ongoing funding supports the theatre's annual Wildside Festival programming. To date, these sums total $168,000, including $15,200 in 2023-2024.
