Performing and cultural arts centre plans take centre stage
Mayor Del Duca champions the arts and creative industries during keynote Vaughan Chamber address
“Vaughan is an ambitious city that has long been known for its brains and its brawn. Now is the time for us to set the stage for our next act by nourishing our community’s soul,” Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca said today as he delivered a keynote address during the Annual Mayor’s Luncheon presented by the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Del Duca spoke passionately to an audience of over 650 community leaders – including Members of Council, business and government representatives – about the arts and creative industries, which Vaughan Council has consistently identified as an area of opportunity.
Plans to build a performing and cultural arts centre took centre stage in the Mayor’s keynote address. Mayor Del Duca outlined a plan for the City of Vaughan to develop and enter into a future memorandum of understanding (MOU) with QuadReal Property Group that will outline a shared commitment to work together towards building a performing and cultural arts centre within the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. The MOU between the City of Vaughan and QuadReal will provide a framework for the facility’s funding, design, construction and operation.
“The new performing and cultural arts centre will complete the VMC’s evolution into the downtown destination the City has been creating for the past decade,” Mayor Del Duca said, adding that “it will make an immediate economic impact and advance creative placemaking in Vaughan. The arts centre will also indirectly benefit hospitality and retail and create opportunity in the VMC as businesses seek to align themselves with the City’s vision.”
A feasibility study conducted in 2019 estimated that a cultural facility in the VMC can stimulate more than $100 million in economic activity related to one-time construction and has the potential to inject over $2.5 million directly into the local and regional economy every year.
Mayor Del Duca further announced key activities the City is undertaking to position Vaughan as a leading destination and creative hub for residents, visitors, artists, entrepreneurs and industry leaders, including:
Introducing the Host in Vaughan Grant program, a new fund to enhance tourism across the city.
Advancing a new Creative Arts and Cultural Industries Advisory Committee of Council.
Expanding the ARTonBOXES program to animate public spaces with more than 100 new public art installations.
Building on the City’s Memorandum of Understanding with the McMichael Canadian Art Collection and the Vaughan International Film Festival to advance the city’s arts, culture and creative industries.
Developing plans for a cultural arts district in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC).
Vaughan is home to more than 3,500 creative businesses in the sector, which account for nearly one-third of all creative businesses in York Region. These businesses contribute to multiple sectors, including arts, entertainment and recreation, information and cultural industries and professional, scientific and technical services. Together, they added more than $2.4 billion to Vaughan’s real GDP in 2022.
Investing in this booming industry not only makes good financial sense and adds value to the city and local businesses, “the arts and culture also enrich our lives and nurture a more welcoming, inclusive and vibrant society that nourishes the spirit,” Mayor Del Duca continued.
QUOTES
“Vaughan remains the economic engine of York Region, accounting for 35 per cent of all businesses, 36 per cent of all employment and 36 per cent of all economic output in 2023. These statistics are incredible – but they represent what we are, not who we are – and to tell that story, we need to establish our city’s soul through the arts. The arts move and thrill us; they nourish our spirit and connect us, bringing us closer to each other and ourselves. Our plans to work with QuadReal to build a performing and cultural arts centre in the VMC is a critical opportunity to attract ambitious young talent further, provide technology and services that contribute to other sectors’ success and cultivate a distinct sense of place that attracts interest, opportunity and investment. The arts and creative industries are big business and some of the world’s most rapidly expanding sectors. Becoming a leader in these sectors will strengthen our economy and offer Vaughan untold opportunities. We’re excited to be planning Vaughan’s next act.” -Mayor Steven Del Duca
“QuadReal’s development at Assembly Park is a dynamic planned community and we’re happy to work with Mayor Steven Del Duca to build a performing arts centre that will contribute to a more vibrant VMC. Our continued collaboration with Vaughan reflects our long-term commitment to helping the city meet the residential, commercial, and cultural needs of the community.”
-Jay Claggett, Senior Vice President, Development, QuadReal Property Group.
QUICK FACTS
Vaughan is home to 3,500 businesses in the creative industries.
The creative industries contribute to multiple sectors, including arts, entertainment and recreation, information and cultural industries and professional, scientific and technical services, which added more than $2.4 billion to Vaughan’s real GDP in 2022.
The City of Vaughan approved the Host in Vaughan Grant program, a new fund to enhance tourism across the city, on March 19 (PDF link).
The Mayor introduced an all-new Creative Arts and Cultural Industries Advisory Committee of Council.
During the City’s March 19 Special Council Meeting, Vaughan Council approved plans for the development of an MOU with QuadReal Property Group to develop a future performing and cultural arts centre in the VMC.
LEARN MORE:
- City of Vaughan’s website
- City of Vaughan’s Public Art website
- Vaughan Chamber of Commerce website
Performing and Cultural Arts Centre backgrounder
- Host in Vaughan Grant program website
- ArtonBoxes website
- Advancing our Creative Industries Memorandum of Understanding news release
- Feasibility Study for a Cultural Arts Centre in the VMC webpage
