Stage Door News
Stage Door News
On October 12, 2017 at 11:30am, Theatre Aquarius will officially unveil the worst-kept secret in the Hamilton Arts scene: the striking and exciting reinvention of the entrance to the company’s Theatre Centre at 190 King William St, the Dofasco Centre for the Arts. This renewal is much more than just cosmetic, however, and represents the completion of the first phase of the Audience Accessibility Project that will ensure professional theatre remains accessible to all members of the community for many years to come.
“When this facility opened in 1991, it was state-of-the-art,” says Blaine Cameron, Chair of the Theatre Aquarius Board of Directors “however times change, and the needs of people living with disabilities have changed as well. It is so important to us to be a theatre for all people, and this project is a huge step forward in fulfilling that promise.”
Theatre Aquarius is deeply grateful that The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund from Canadian Heritage found the Theatre Aquarius Audience Accessibility Project in alignment with their funding priorities. Canadian Heritage and its portfolio organizations play a vital role in the cultural, civic and economic life of Canadians. The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) supports the improvement of physical conditions for artistic creativity and innovation. The fund supports the improvement, renovation and construction of arts and heritage facilities, as well as the acquisition of specialized equipment.
“Our government understands that investments in arts and culture help build strong communities,” said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage. “We are proud to support Theatre Aquarius as part of our ongoing commitment to developing and improving access to cultural institutions for all Canadians.”
By supporting improvements to our country’s cultural spaces, the CCSF increases access for Canadians to performing arts, visual arts, media arts, museum collections and heritage displays.
The significant investment of the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund enabled Theatre Aquarius to undertake the first stage of this ongoing project, resulting in the reinvention of the entrance being unveiled on October 12th This phase included a dramatically increased overhead canopy to protect patrons from the elements, new automatic, barrier-free doors and improved lighting for safety and comfort. The project also allowed for the investment in the striking new video display marquee which celebrates the company’s productions and Theatre Aquarius’ role as Hamilton’s landmark performing arts institution.
As a part of the unveiling on October 12th, Theatre Aquarius also celebrates the significant contribution of the Patrick J. McNally Charitable Foundation, through whose generosity Theatre Aquarius was able to completely replace and upgrade our hearing assisted listening devices to ensure the best possible experience for persons living with a hearing impairment, as well as the City of Hamilton, who dramatically increased the available wheelchair-accessible curb space for drop-off and pick-up, helping to ensure barrier-free access for all.
Theatre Aquarius is a recognized leader in Canadian theatre. We produce work of the highest quality, premiere new plays, develop the skills of professional artists, invest in youth and families and contribute to the quality of life in this region. We house two performing spaces and offer 9 plays every season. Theatre Aquarius acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts, The City of Hamilton, the Incite Foundation for the Arts, The Hamilton Community Foundation and “Ron” and Donna Patterson (45th Season Sponsors).
2017-10-11
Hamilton: Theatre Aquarius celebrates renewal with a dramatic reveal