Performing Arts - Facilities

The growing needs of Edmonton's performing arts community were met with the construction of the

Northern Jubilee Auditorium in 1955, but by the 1980s, demands began to overwhelm. Many musicians felt the acoustics of the auditorium were unsuitable for a symphony orchestra and booking conflicts between the orchestra and the Edmonton Opera often arose. Two groups of Edmontonians, one helmed by radio announcer and jazz musician Tommy Banks, set out to find ways to remedy the situation.

They joined together and formed the Edmonton Concert Hall Foundation in 1983, with the lofty goal of raising enough money to build a proper music facility for the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and its patrons. The group consulted architects and acousticians, researching structures from around the world including over 70, 19th and 20th century performing arts facilities. Much of the early fundraising efforts relied upon the generosity of the general public. Ambitious campaigns were launched to promote the idea of a music hall and in 1988, the Foundation put in a bid for the old police station across from Sir Winston Churchill Square in downtown Edmonton. The lease was finalized soon after, with the city offering a 90-year lease on the property for one dollar a year.

Despite public and civic support, the Foundation still needed millions of dollars to complete the project. Help came from an unprecedented donation by Dr. Francis Winspear who committed six million dollars to the project, the largest single private donation to a performing arts facility in Canada. In turn, the Alberta government matched the donation, initiating construction on the Francis Winspear Centre.

The state of the art facility opened in September 1997. The goal of acoustic excellence was met while maintaining an esthetically appealing design and a close and welcoming atmosphere. Airtight walls suppress all outside noises, while the interior design serves to reflect the sound back to the musicians so they can hear themselves play.

Home to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Winspear Centre also plays host to a number of touring concerts each year and graduation ceremonies for local high schools and community colleges.