Calgary Philanthropist Gifts $75 Million to Arts Commons
Artist rendering, Werklund Centre expansion (courtesy of Arts Commons)
Philanthropist Dave Werklund and his family have given $75 million to Arts Commons to support the renovation of Arts Commons and Olympic Plaza in Calgary.
The gift brings Arts Commons Transformation (ACT) funding to $498.5 million. The fundraising goal is $660 million.
The money will go toward construction costs and the creation of the Dave Werklund Education Wing. It will also establish four funds to support education, accessibility, operations and an ongoing endowment to rename Arts Commons as the Werklund Centre in perpetuity, starting with the 2025-2026 season.
The donation is the largest known gift to the performing arts sector in Canadian history, according to the news release.
Western Canada’s largest arts centre, Arts Commons is home to “Alberta Theatre Projects, Arts Commons Presents, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Downstage, Theatre Calgary, and One Yellow Rabbit. It houses six gallery spaces, five theatres, and the Jack Singer Concert Hall. Its four sub-brands – Arts Commons Presents, Arts Commons Galleries, Arts Commons Education, and Arts Commons Connects – promote local, national, international, emerging and established artists with a focus on championing inclusion and reconciliation, ensuring the arts' rightful place at the centre of civic life,” according to the release.
Gallery spaces include Ledge Gallery, Lightbox Studio (geared toward experimental studio-based projects and exhibitions), seven window galleries and the +15 galleries, which feature community-driven projects by emerging and re-emerging artists.
Source: Arts Commons
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