Province gives $3M to community arts centre in Ancaster
The Ancaster Memorial School is transforming into a community arts centre
The Ancaster Memorial School is transforming into a community arts centre with $3 million of provincial funding.
On Monday, Liberal MPP Ted McMeekin announced the provincial investment into the old school that the City of Hamilton purchased.
"We're in a community that's very gifted in terms of young local talent that will now have a hub right in the centre of the town," said McMeekin, who's the MPP for Ancaster, Dundas, Flamborough and Westdale.
The arts centre is envisioned to have a 450-seat theatre, a separate studio theatre, a gallery and multiple rooms for art, theatre and dance.
Thrilled to announce Ontario is investing up to $3 million towards the new Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre. This new community hub & 450 seat theatre (at the former Memorial School) will add new vitality to an already thriving arts community in Ancaster! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hamont?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hamont</a> <a href="https://t.co/SrWULRBILt">pic.twitter.com/SrWULRBILt</a>
—@TedMcMeekinProject details
There is an ongoing community fundraiser for the centre which has raised $2.29 million to date. Some donors include the Ancaster Mill and the Ancaster Village BIA.
The project began in 2011 when Lloyd Ferguson, ward 12 councillor in Hamilton, thought of the idea with Bob Wilkins from the Ancaster BIA, according to the arts centre's website.
McMeekin said the construction is set to begin in spring of 2018 for a fall grand opening.
