By Melanie Sharpe
The provincial government’s decision to help fund the proposed Elgin Street concert hall brings the project one step closer to reality, although organizers say millions still need to be raised from the private sector and the federal government.
The province committed $6.5 million towards the concert hall in its 2006 budget announcement in late March. The city of Ottawa has also pledged more than $6 million.
However, still needed is $6.5 million in federal funds and $7 million in private donations. Construction of the concert hall is set to begin this fall, but only if the additional money is raised.
“We don’t believe the project is possible without a partnership between all three levels of government and the community,” says Colin Cooke, board chairman for the Ottawa Chamber Music Society.
The music society has been spearheading the campaign to build the 925-seat concert hall at 150 Elgin Street. Cooke says provincial backing is an important sign of support for additional funding.
Community contributions have already raised $1.5 million so far, and Cooke says the chamber is planning a city wide community campaign that will try to bring public attention to the project’s funding needs.
“We’ve been at the friends and family stage where volunteers and supporters put funds forward. In the not-too-distant future we’ll go on a much more public stance,” he says. “At that point you’ll be hearing a lot more about us.”
Concert hall supporters admit that private funding has to include more than just individual contributions. The music society is currently seeking businesses to sponsor the venue.
But Cooke says securing private sponsorship isn’t very easy.
“It’s a long process. They’re not just going to sit down and say ‘yeah that’s great, where do we sign?’ But we’re very confident that we’ve got some good contacts in the business community.”
The federal Department of Heritage is reviewing the concert hall’s funding application, but department spokesperson Len Westerberg couldn’t say when the decision will be made.
“We don’t have a timeline. It’s in the system and I can’t speculate if it will be one day one week or one month,” he says.
One of the more vocal supporters of the project has been Mayor Bob Chiarelli.
The mayor’s communications adviser, Robin Guest, says Chiarelli is committed to the campaign.
“He’s been 100 per cent behind this project since the very beginning,” Guest says. “The mayor’s role is to lobby the federal government to support the project.”
Ottawa’s arts community has also stepped up support. The Council for the Arts in Ottawa has written Beverley Oda, minister of Canadian Heritage, in support of federal funds to help build the music venue.
Zoe Ashby, a council for the Arts representative, says Ottawa is long overdue for additional arts funding.
“We have a history of being under funded and it’s a constant concern for the arts community,” she says. “There have been virtually no new capital funds for cultural facilities in 20 years.”
But Ashby is hopeful this trend is turning around, mentioning the the Great Canadian Theatre Company’s new performing arts centre.
The theatre company received provincial, city and private funding and construction is currently underway for the new Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre at 1233 Wellington St.
Ashby is optimistic that the concert hall will be the next arts venue to begin construction in Ottawa.
“I think there is money in the city. They’ve got a job ahead of them, but I wouldn’t say it’s impossible.”
Cooke says that if all goes well he expects the concert hall to be open by Christmas 2008, but says there is a lot of work to do before then.