KWMP To Provide Pay-What-You-Can Rehearsal and Performance Space To Help Local Arts Community Recover From COVID-19

KITCHENER – Local performing arts group Kitchener-Waterloo Musical Productions (KWMP) has received funding from the Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation’s (KWCF) COVID-19 Arts Sustainability and Recovery Fund, and The Lyle S. Hallman Fund. The funding will allow KWMP to safely reopen the KWMP Community Arts Centre, and provide the local performing arts community with access to free or subsidized rehearsal and performance space, through a Pay What You Can model. 

There is a real need for affordable rehearsal and performance space in Waterloo Region. This need has been documented in countless reports by all levels of Government and the local performing arts community. This need has only increased due to COVID-19, as spaces that performing arts groups have come to rely on have closed their doors, stopped renting or increased rents.

KWMP owns and operates the KWMP Community Arts Centre which is located at 14 Shaftsbury Drive in Kitchener (close to Ottawa St. N. and Lackner Blvd). The building was opened in 1925 as Natchez School, School Section No. 6 before it was purchased by KWMP in 1964 from the School Board of the Township of Waterloo. A large addition was added in 1980, creating 3 separate rehearsal spaces big enough to simulate any of the local performance venues (Centre in the Square, Conrad Centre, The Registry Theatre, etc.). The KWMP Community Arts Centre also features a costume shop, an extensive workshop for set building, and storage for costumes, sets and props. 

 “One of KWMP’s core values is to support the local performing arts community, and over the years we’ve worked hard to provide an affordable community arts space,” says Past President of KWMP Brenden Sherratt. “This funding will provide hundreds of hours of performing and rehearsal space to the arts community, will significantly decrease the costs that many groups incur, and ultimately help these organizations recover quicker from COVID-19.” Sherratt also notes that the organization is hoping to continue the program in years beyond the pandemic recovery period if funding can be secured. 

Before COVID-19, KWMP Community Arts Centre was used for rehearsals, smaller theatre productions, workshops, film or photoshoots, jam sessions and concerts. In addition to being the hub for the development and rehearsal for KWMP productions, the spaces have been used by dozens of local arts groups, independent film crews, and more.

Local performing arts organizations wishing to take advantage of the Pay-What-You-Can rental initiative for the KWMP Community Arts Centre can view criteria and submit a rental request through the KWMP website at www.KWMP.ca/rehearsal-space.

For more information please contact Rentals@kwmp.ca

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