By Jordan Shifman
Ottawa city council will contribute $5.47 million to the city’s new concert hall, but it will remain off limits until the federal and provincial governments, as well as the community, offer financial help.
The Ottawa Chamber Music Society’s director, Julian Armour, along with his staff and countless volunteers, has been working diligently for months to bring a medium-sized, 925-seat, contemporary music complex to a city craving more arts. He says these next goals can be achieved, but they can’t be achieved alone. “We’ve been going on all fronts. We did about two years worth of work in three months, but it’s not over,” he says. “The biggest obstacle is getting municipal funding and that’s done. It’s a tremendous breakthrough that the councillors approved the hall. We need their help in creating and promoting it.”
Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Gord Hunter says he is disappointed that the new hall, which is planned for 150 Elgin St., is going forward. He says council should have opted out of the project.
“I’m not happy with the decision, but I’ll live with it,” he says. “It’s not a priority project with anyone’s citizens and we had other good uses for that money and that land. Now that the decision is made, I wish them luck. But it’s not a done deal as of yet.”
Hunter is referring to the stipulation in the music hall agreement that requires the other two levels of government to contribute $6.5 million each. If that money is not attained, Ottawa’s money does not kick in.
Armour remains optimistic that this next hurdle can be overcome.
“If the provincial and federal governments come to the table, we are confident this can happen. And we have a very strong proposal,” the Society’s director says. “We’re asking for roughly five per cent of the $119.5 million Toronto has received the past two years for cultural infrastructure. So I believe they would view our request to be quite modest.”
Somerset Ward Coun. Diane Holmes says now is the time for the community to step up and be heard.
She says it’s crucial they fulfill the $8.5 million the Chamber Music Society projects will be needed from corporate and private donors.
“They have a very large audience. And that audience is very keen,” she says. “We certainly heard from all of them when it was time to lobby. Now it’s their turn to provide funds. Maybe there’s a corporation that would have interest in naming the concert hall.”
Goulbourn Ward Coun. Janet Stavinga says city council still has a responsibility to play an active role in the project. She says she is willing to go beyond just voting for the project and she urges others to do the same.
“I think it’s important that we get behind the music society and help them in their efforts. I’m prepared to stand with them. I will do whatever I can in my capacity,” she says. “Now I will be encouraging people to get on board. If there is another capacity that they want me to be involved in, I would certainly do that. It’s a great cause.”
Besides raising money, Armour says the ultimate goal is to create excitement about arts in Ottawa.
“We need to just get out there and explain to everyone why this project is just absolutely fantastic. That’s our job now. If we can do that, I’m confident we’ll be successful.”