08-28-2014, 04:13 PM
Centre in the Square
Centre in the Square
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08-28-2014, 04:13 PM
Centre in the Square
08-28-2014, 04:13 PM
City to review Centre in Square’s mission
August 26, 2014 | Catherine Thompson | Waterloo Region Record | Link Quote:KITCHENER — For the first time in more than three decades, Kitchener city council has agreed to spell out clearly what it expects of the city-owned Centre in the Square.
08-28-2014, 04:14 PM
So what do you think? What needs to be done to "fix" the Centre in the Square?
08-28-2014, 06:32 PM
The suggestion to move KW Symphony concerts to Thursdays is a good one. Weekends are where it's at for big name acts.
There need to be more amenities within walking distance; CITS is isolated by parking lots and institutional buildings. It's really too far from the rest of downtown.
08-28-2014, 10:46 PM
I agree with the comment about more amenities. I think they should use the space at the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts more. They have that space to use, so why not use it. And lots of amenities near by.
One thing I'd like to see is when big shows are in town, any extra seats an hour before hand get sold off at a big discount. Not only does it generate a little extra revenue, it gets people out in the downtown and exposed to some events they might not normally be exposed to.
08-28-2014, 11:30 PM
Spokes Wrote:I agree with the comment about more amenities. I think they should use the space at the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts more. They have that space to use, so why not use it. And lots of amenities near by. When you say "they", you mean the KWS? The Conrad Centre is their rehearsal space. Part of the reconciliation between CITS and KWS would see the latter return to CITS, which would open the Conrad Centre for more opportunities.
08-29-2014, 12:45 AM
panamaniac Wrote:That is what I meant by they. I didn't know that. Very interesting. I wasn't sure what kind of draw they typically get at their performances.Spokes Wrote:I agree with the comment about more amenities. I think they should use the space at the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts more. They have that space to use, so why not use it. And lots of amenities near by. I'd love to see the Conrad Centre used more.
08-29-2014, 11:23 AM
DHLawrence Wrote:The suggestion to move KW Symphony concerts to Thursdays is a good one. Weekends are where it's at for big name acts. Some KWS concerts are on Thursdays, but I expect that this will become the norm under any new arrangements. I also agree about the lack of amenities, but it doesn't seem to be on anyone's radar. The KCL blew it by not incorporating a café with its own entrance into the renovation/expansion project and I doubt there will be anything incorporated as part of the County Courthouse renovation either. At the moment, the only amenity of any sort in the Civic District is the cafeteria in the Regional HQ. They could be doing much more, imho.
08-29-2014, 11:29 AM
panamaniac Wrote:At the moment, the only amenity of any sort in the Civic District is the cafeteria in the Regional HQ. They could be doing much more, imho. At least the library still intends to add a cafe.
08-29-2014, 12:10 PM
KevinL Wrote:panamaniac Wrote:At the moment, the only amenity of any sort in the Civic District is the cafeteria in the Regional HQ. They could be doing much more, imho. That's the plan, but it will be inside the building and will need to adhere to Library hours, which seems to limit its viability. The irony is that a well-regarded local café tried to engage them and couldn't get them to focus on the idea of incorporating a "free-standing" coffee shop into the project. One understands that their priority was the Library itself, but it seems like a missed opportunity to me. I hope that KWAG won't make the same mistake if they ever have the resources for a new Gallery to display the Tannenbaum collection of naïve art that was recently gifted to them. By the way, if anyone hasn't been to the Region HQ cafeteria, it's a decent lunch option but what makes the visit worthwhile are the old local history/heritage murals on the walls. They were originally installed in the old Waterloo Trust building at King and Ontario Sts.
08-29-2014, 09:07 PM
I wonder if the rumour of THEMUSEUM buying an adjacent building with auditorium space refers to the Conrad Centre and not the building facing Queen after all. I've thought they should buy it since Theatre & Company folded.
If space inside CITS is being reorganized, could moving the KW Art Gallery be helpful? I find it gets lost within the performing arts portion of the complex; maybe moving would raise its profile and allow for greater flexibility.
08-29-2014, 09:28 PM
DHLawrence Wrote:I wonder if the rumour of THEMUSEUM buying an adjacent building with auditorium space refers to the Conrad Centre and not the building facing Queen after all. I've thought they should buy it since Theatre & Company folded. No, the thinking at THEMUSEUM is to expand to the rest of the former Goudies (i.e. the former Bramante building facing Queen St). That new space would have a theatre/auditorium in it, I believe. Whether there is any private money to enable such a major expansion is an open question. I sometimes wonder whether the KWAG couldn't be a candidate to occupy the former Provincial Courthouse, but again that would be hugely expensive. I think the long range plans for the civic district contemplate an expansion of the KWAG building out toward Queen Street.
09-01-2014, 06:53 PM
It's a shame that the Centre is having issues, it is an amazing space where I have preformed several times and seen many many shows. The reality is that it is expensive to run a show at the Centre, there is ticketing fees, venue rental, and your always need IATSE union members to use the space. The problem for theatre organizations is there is the Centre and the Registry Theatre, there is no mid sized theatre venue in KW that is open to the community. The Conrad is taken up by the symphony and nearly impossible to get into, humanities theatre is reserved for UW, any of the high schools could bump a theatre group with less then 2 weeks notice and Drayton is doing it's own thing.
09-01-2014, 10:11 PM
Brenden, what do you consider "mid sized"?
03-31-2015, 09:56 AM
I don't know whether I agree with City Council's decision yesterday on CITS' mandate, but it's probably best in the absence of another, smaller venue that could focus on the local arts and cultural community. Council's decision to limit additional support to $350,000 per year (if I understand correctly) makes me think that CITS will have a hard slog ahead of it financially.
http://www.kitchener.ca/en/News/index.as...2dc7869799 |
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