TAPESTRY OPERA, NIGHTWOOD THEATRE, ST. CLARE’S RECEIVE $1.25 MILLION FROM THE CITY OF TORONTO ENABLING CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY TOWARDS A NEW ARTS HUB IN THE HEART OF TORONTO
Tapestry Opera, Nightwood Theatre, St. Clare’s announce a significant contribution toward their new downtown arts hub at 877 Yonge Street. With the help of Councillor Dianne Saxe, the ABC Residents Association (ABCRA), and The Greater Yorkville Residents Association (GYRA), the City of Toronto has allocated $1.25 million in Section 37 funds to build the dynamic arts facility by the 2024-2025 season. The ABCRA has committed to raise an additional $250,000 in support of construction.
Nightwood Theatre and Tapestry Opera have been without a facility since the expulsion of arts organizations from the Distillery Historic District in 2022. In a decade that has seen the loss of multiple Toronto venues for dance, theatre, and music, this space addresses a dire need in the arts ecosystem of our city. With these new investments, the construction stage at 877 Yonge Street will be fully funded. The ABCRA is thrilled to be able to support vibrant and innovative arts programming in our neighbourhood and the city. Having Tapestry and Nightwood call our community home is in keeping with a long tradition of Yorkville as a hub of musicians, artists and creatives.
An additional $400,000 is required for the final stage in order to equip and furnish the facility. The completed venue at 877 Yonge St. will feature a fully equipped studio-theatre, rehearsal hall, and green room, allowing for seamless transitions between creative exploration and captivating live performances. This project will enable the organizations to offer accessible space for independent artists and companies to promote equity and inclusivity within the performing arts community, and to feature dynamic possibilities for audiences of 150-200. The companies call upon the city’s residents, arts enthusiasts, and philanthropists to rally behind this new facility for the performing arts.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to our core supporters and boards of directors, the ABCRA, the GYRA, Councillor Dianne Saxe, the City of Toronto, Plaza Partners, 1 Bloor West, and St. Clare’s for their unwavering commitment. Their collective efforts have brought us closer to achieving our shared vision of a thriving arts hub that will inspire, uplift, and enrich the cultural landscape of Toronto.”
– Andrea Donaldson, Artistic Director, Nightwood Theatre; Naz Afsahi, Managing Director, Nightwood Theatre; Michael Mori, Artistic Director, Tapestry Opera; Jaime Martino, Executive Director, Tapestry Opera