The Government of Canada is investing $2 million in cultural infrastructure funding to the Francis Winspear Centre for Music in Edmonton through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund.

The acclaimed performing arts centre was built in 1997 and is home to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. It is receiving this funding in support of the Winspear Renewal Project, which aims to enhance the accessibility of the facility while creating a welcoming environment for guests.

The renewal project includes facility upgrades to improve access for guests with disabilities, as well as new seating for the Concert Hall, the facility’s main performance space. The Centre’s existing seats are now 20 years old and must be replaced to maintain audience comfort and the acoustic integrity of the venue.

In addition, the renewal project includes the construction of four new multi-purpose spaces that can be used for rehearsal, production, programming and outreach activities. The exterior entrance will also be expanded to increase the overall size of the main lobby, which will also feature a new Discovery Centre, which will feature exhibits and musical presentations.

“Through the Winspear Renewal Project, we will revitalize the hall’s remarkable acoustic qualities, increase patron comfort throughout the facility, and invite more Edmontonians inside to experience the shared joy of music through new programs and performances taking place in updated and welcoming spaces,” said Annemarie Petrov, president and chief executive officer of the Francis Winspear Centre for Music, in a press release. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff, and musicians of the Winspear Centre, I express my sincere gratitude to Canadian Heritage for their support through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, as we work towards transforming the Winspear Centre into a true centre for music that is open and accessible to all.”

Editor’s note: The name of the Concert Hall has been corrected.