This release was issued under a previous government.
Premier Notley, Minister Miranda and Minister Jansen joined Jean Grand-Maître, artistic director, Alberta Ballet, to announce an investment to upgrade the Jubilee Auditoriums.
Behind-the-scenes improvements mean workers and performers will be safer and more comfortable and the buildings themselves will become more accessible. Upgrades will be made to freight elevators and the orchestra pits. Accessible washrooms will be installed and rehearsal halls, green rooms and dressing rooms will be modernized.
“The work done behind the scenes is as important as what is on the mainstage. Budget 2018 is about diversifying the economy, protecting public services, and finding a path to balance. This investment in the Jubilee Auditoriums does all three and will make life better for the performers who come here, and for the patrons who enjoy the shows.”
The auditoriums were last renovated in 2004. Improvements focused on patron comfort and performance enhancements such as acoustics, seating and climate control.
“The Jubilee Auditoriums continue to be the busiest theatres in Alberta, providing amazing experiences for hundreds of thousands of patrons every year. I am pleased that we are able to support these necessary improvements to both facilities so they can continue to be centrepieces in Alberta’s cultural landscape and key drivers of Alberta’s economic diversification.”
The Jubilee Auditoriums host more than 430 performances, entertaining more than 730,000 patrons each year. The Jubilees are considered the second- and third-busiest venues in Canada for commercial touring shows, according to the Pollstar industry publication.
“The Alberta Jubilee Auditoriums are two of the best performing spaces in Canada and we’re pleased to see the Government of Alberta making this investment in upgrading them. These renovations will ensure that Alberta Ballet can continue to share the exciting live dance that Albertans love, and will enable us to stage even bigger productions at the Jubilee.”
Quick facts
- The auditoriums generate almost $7 million a year in revenues and employ almost 400 part-time and full-time employees.
- The Alberta Jubilee Auditoriums are both owned by the Government of Alberta and are operated in partnership with the provincial departments of Infrastructure and Alberta Culture and Tourism.
- The Jubilees were built between 1955 and 1957 and given as a gift to the people of the province as part of Alberta’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
- The mandate of the Alberta Jubilee Auditorium is to provide a place of celebration where community spirit and cultural enrichment thrive.