A new performing and cultural arts centre being built in Vaughan, Ont.’s emerging downtown core is anticipated to be a cornerstone of the community.
During a special signing ceremony in June, the City of Vaughan entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with QuadReal Property Group to guide planning for a state-of-the-art performing and cultural arts centre in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC).
The new venue will be located in QuadReal’s Assembly Park community and is expected to open between 2029 and 2032.
The MOU provides a framework for the facility’s funding, design, construction and operation.
The non-binding MOU establishes the parties’ intent to co-operatively advance the planning and design and outlines each party’s commitment to enter good-faith negotiations regarding the construction, operation and funding to bring the centre to fruition in accordance with the provisions of the Planning Act, states a release.
Following the execution of the MOU, the next step would be the completion of a business plan to identify options for built form, governance, financial and operational models. Staff is expected to bring the results of the study to council for consideration and direction.
Studies support building an arts and culture centre
The City of Vaughan has been exploring the feasibility of developing a cultural arts centre for years.
In 2018, it commissioned the firms of Hariri Pontarini Architects, AMS Planning and Research and FDA to conduct a two-phase feasibility study which provided a foundation for pursuing next steps to advance the centre.
In the second phase of the study, the city’s consultants engaged with major landowners, including QuadReal, Smart Centres, and Toromont, to explore opportunities for establishing cultural facilities as anchors for creative and cultural developments in the VMC.
The next steps in the project, which came out of phase two of the study, were to identify a site, uses and an operational and governance model for the centre.
The guiding principles of a central performing arts centre, emphasized by the studies include:
- Creating opportunities for residents and visitors to experience and participate in arts and culture performances, exhibits, programs and events.
- Embracing diversity as a gathering place that welcomes people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to collaborate to share ideas and experiences.
- “Right-sizing” the facility to be commercially viable for both community organizations and high-profile performers, ensuring the facility is financially viable and delivers community benefits.
- Creating flexible space to support a variety of events throughout the year.
- A mix of spaces which support creative industries development to ensure flexibility for future market demands.
- A location that ensures accessibility by walking, cycling, transit and car and in an area with supporting land uses and in proximity to parks and open space.
- Operated by a municipal services corporation, a reputable non-profit organization, or a division of the city.
- Successful centre development requires strong collaboration and partnership with a broad collation of landowners, operators, and potential users.
According to a City of Vaughan report, a centre in the VMC can stimulate more than $100 million in economic activity related to one-time construction and, on an annual basis, has the potential to inject over $2.5 million directly into the local and regional economy. Indirect impacts include spending in the supply chain, hospitality sector and retail trades in the city.
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