Fredericton Playhouse urges municipalities to support replacement

The push to build a replacement for the aging Fredericton Playhouse may need to be re-evaluated after onlyone municipality agreedto ante upfunding for the new arts centre by the deadline.

Wayne Burley, the president of the Playhouse's board of directors, said if more municipalities don't commit to support the project it may have to be re-evaluated.

"We'd obviously have to review the whole funding model," said Burley

"This amount of $5.4 million that has been targeted for the regional municipalities. If it isn't coming from the regional municipalities, it would either have to come from somewhere else or the project would have to be re-evaluated."

• Fredericton performing arts centre loses potential funding
• Performing arts centre for Fredericton would boost economy
• Fredericton Playhouse should face final curtain, staff say

While the board was hoping municipalities would back the project, he understands why some may not be in a position to kick in some money for the new arts centre.

"Our board realizes that municipalities are facing many priorities," said Burley.

"Our board does respect that there are many priorities and it's up to the municipality to make that decision."

In July, the Village of Hanwell rejected a request to make a $670,000 contributionto builda new regional performing arts facility.

Later that month, the Village of Fredericton Junction followed suit by turning down the request for funding.

New Maryland has been asked to contribute $44,826 every year for 10 years to the proposedreplacement.

New Maryland MayorJudy Wilson-Sheesaid the council wouldn't be able to respond to the request until after the village writes up its budget in October, after the deadline for responding has passed.

Wilson-Sheesaid she supports the project but she has reservations about the cost.

"Personally, if you come to me and asked me for so much money I'd have to sit down, 'Can I affordthat,'" said Wilson-Shee.

Hanwell had been asked to contribute to the project over 10 years, with a total of $67,000 a year.

Hanwell Mayor Chris Melvin said that while the community supports te Playhouse, the community has other commitments it needs to think about.

"The timing is off," Melvin said.

Burley said the board only has one firm commitment for fundingand that's from Fredericton.

The new facility would have two performance areas of 850 and 300 seats each, the Playhouse, which opened in the 1960s, has 709 seats.