Calgary Opera moving to Stampede grounds

Calgary Operahas struck a deal with the Calgary Stampede to moveto anew 50,000 square-footbuilding on the grounds.

General director Bob McPhee says the group has outgrown its current rehearsal space inthe historicArrata Opera Centre and plans to relocateby 2018.

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"It was an opportunity for the two groups to get together and try to mergesome of their mandates. The Stampede is very much committed to the training of young singers," saidMcPhee.

As part of itsplanto develop a youth campus, theStampede willprovide land to Calgary Opera to build a new facility on the grounds.The youthcampus will eventually be home to the Calgary Stampede Show Band, the Young Canadians School of Performing Arts andthe Calgary Arts Academy charter school.

The building will cost $23 million plusanother $10million to fundongoing programming and operating costs. Calgary Opera isseeking funding from the city, the province and business partnerships.

McPhee saidCalgary Opera will continue touse the Jubilee Auditorium for big shows, but says the new opera centre will have a 350-seat space for smaller scale performances thatwill also be available to outside groups.

"Many of these small groups just can't afford the cost of some of the expensive spaces in town at the larger theatres. So it's a win-win we hope for the whole arts community," McPhee said.

The new opera centre will have two large rehearsal halls, education rooms, a music library as well as space forwardrobe, audio visual and administration offices.