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Windsor’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Sector Gets $2.3M Investment
Today, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens was joined by Irek Kusmierczyk, Member of Parliament for Windsor-Tecumseh, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage, along with representatives from the Windsor Symphony Orchestra (WSO), and City of Windsor administration to announce a $2.3-million investment in the community’s arts, culture and heritage sector.
The City of Windsor is investing $1.8 million, with the Government of Canada contributing $500,000 through the Legacy Fund stream of the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program from the Department of Canadian Heritage, which provides funding for community-initiated capital projects intended for community use.
The City’s approved grant application sought funding for the Capitol Theatre 100th Anniversary Legacy Project to commemorate the venue’s milestone anniversary with a legacy installation; community celebration; and extensive infrastructure improvements to meet user needs, improve accessibility, and increase energy efficiency.
“Arts and cultural experiences are central to our well-being. However, this sector has been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. To assist in the recovery, federal emergency support programs have provided over $15 billion to businesses and workers in tourism, arts, and culture. As the public health situation improves, we will continue to be there to help businesses welcome residents back. Our federal government is proud to partner with the City of Windsor to support the revitalization of the Capitol Theatre, which has drawn our community together, told our local stories, and reinforced our cultural diversity for one hundred years.”
Irek Kusmierczyk, Member of Parliament for Windsor-Tecumseh
Work is currently underway at the heritage gem in downtown Windsor, and includes the following:
- Upgrades for ten 25-year-old heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units,
- Renovations adding 2,000 square feet of useable space,
- Replacement of 7,300 square feet of ornate carpet throughout the theatre,
- Enhancements to video and lighting equipment,
- Stage upgrades, and
- Creation and installation of a digital wall highlighting the theatre’s history.
The facility improvements are expected to be complete by December 2022, with a community celebration of the Capitol Theatre also anticipated for 2022.
Council is committed to supporting a city that offers a creative and vibrant community that encourages artistic expression, culture-led economic revitalization, heritage preservation, and the celebration of cultural identity and diversity through the arts.
