The recent committee approval of a concert hall at 150 Elgin St. should be music to the ears of Ottawa’s arts community.
The plan was voted on by the full city council earlier this week.
City council’s corporate services committee agreed to pay about a quarter of the $22 million price tag. The funding is on thecondition that the Ottawa Chamber Music Society secures the rest of the financing through fundraising and grants from the federal and provincial governments.
This is a super offer. The city is getting a great deal.
Critics argue the debt-saddled city shouldn’t be diverting money into music halls. But a new facility isn’t just about another venue for the arts. It’s about a city investing in its future.
Ottawa’s economy depends on tourism. The hall would enhance the city’s attractiveness to potential visitors. Concerts in the world-class facility would draw tourists to the capital region, pumping money into the community. The music hall could complement, not compete, with the National Arts Centre to enhance Ottawa’s vibrant arts culture.
The site, currently a parking lot, is a prime location near hotels, parks and public transit.
The plan also includes office and condo development, so it would draw more people into Centretown to work and live.
The development could set the stage for future partnerships among the city, not-for-profit organizations and business developers. Members of the chamber music society have a vested interest in the hall and will have to dedicate themselves to raising the necessary funds. They have a year to show they have the capability and two years to secure all the money.
The society, organized just over a decade ago, has a proven track record by developing what it says is the largest annual chamber music festival in the world.
Canadians sometimes despair about the difficulty of defining our country’s culture, but are unwilling to pay for the process it takes to foster it. The hall would showcase some of Canada’s top musicians and groom future talent. With a reduction or elimination of music education in schools, students would have an additional venue to learn about classical music.
The project can also indicate the city’s commitment to historical preservation. First Baptist Church, whose cornerstone was laid in 1877 by Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie, would be refurbished and used as a second concert hall. It is refreshing that a municipality recognizes the importance of the past in the pursuit of a more culturally rich future.
As Canada’s capital city, Ottawa should be home to a thriving arts culture. The NAC was a step in the right direction 35 years ago. The music hall would be a superb addition to Ottawa today.
— Trevor Sinker