French-language arts organizations in Greater Sudbury are doing a happy dance this week after Greater Sudbury city council approved $5 million for Place des Arts, a downtown shared arts facility for francophones.
Le Regroupement des organismes culturels de Sudbury (ROCS), an association made up of several local francophone arts organizations, is behind the push for the Place des Arts project.
“We couldn't believe it, truly,” said Paulette Gagnon, director of development for Place des Arts. “For us it was a really important moment, because we've been working on this for six years.”
The response to the from city councillors was overwhelmingly positive.
“I support this 100 per cent,” Ward 5 Coun. Rene Lapierre said before the Dec. 14 vote. “They've shown us their plan is solid … This building will help transform our city.”
It's hoped the city funds will leverage provincial and federal grants for enough to build the $30 million facility.
Almost $339,000 in private donations for the project has been raised in only 40 days through a members' campaign, and proponents hope to bring in $2.6 million from major donors by April 2018.
If all of these pieces fall into place, shovels will be in the ground by the summer of 2018 and the facility would open in the spring of 2020.
“We're very anxious to get there, but we have a lot of work to do before we're there,” Gagnon said.
“2017 is going to be a big year for us. It's the funding we really have to get in place as soon as possible, and it's the last, final planning phase of the construction project so we can start construction in 2018.”
Place des Arts will be built on what's now the municipal parking lot at the corner of Elgin and Larch streets.
“We were very happy to learn this week when the budget was voted on that the land was also included in the city's contribution,” Gagnon said.
Place des Arts will house Carrefour francophone de Sudbury, Centre franco-ontarien de folklore, Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario, La Nuit sur l'étang, Éditions Prise de parole, Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario, Salon du livre du Grand Sudbury and Laurentian University's francophone theatre arts program.
The venue will not only be used by the aforementioned francophone organizations, but will be available to other performers and organizations in the city, regardless of their language or culture.
The 60,000 square foot building will include a bar and restaurant area with a capacity of 100 people ideal for performances by local artists, a smaller “black box” theatre with 150 seats and a larger theatre with 300 seats.
There will also be shops for creating theatre costumes and props, artists' studios, administrative space and perhaps even a francophone daycare.
“There has never been a multidisciplinary arts centre such as this one in the city,” said Gagnon.
“It will become the home and hub of many artists and arts organizations. It will be a place where cultures will meet and dialogue and partner. I think this can bring on a whole new era for arts and culture for which Sudbury is already well known.”
With 50,000 people per year expected to go through Place des Arts' doors every year, Gagnon said the facility has the potential to draw tourists to Greater Sudbury.
“This is going to become a destination not only for the people of Greater Sudbury, but we think that people from neighbouring regions will also visit,” she said.
