The Moose Jaw Cultural Centre provides a connection between artists of several specialties and the public to entertain, provoke innovation, encourage commerce, and enhance the quality of life of people within and beyond the community. In 1982, Moose Jaw's Capitol Theatre was subdivided into a 652-seat triplex from its original capacity of 910. Over – more... the years, it had seen its share of renovations and changes but none of which did anything to improve its overall condition. By the end of the century, as the building continued to decline, the owners of the Capitol began negotiating for land on which to erect a new six-screen multiplex, and put the Capitol up for sale. Local heritage buffs began to worry about the Cap's future.
The mid 1990's brought resurgence and an awakening to the City of Moose Jaw, as tourism became a large part of the City's economy and there was an identified gap in the City's cultural community. It was recognized that little was being done to 'keep up' one of the feature Main Street structures, the Capitol Theatre. A coalition of arts groups called Arts in Motion (AIM) had already been lobbying the local elected officials for a downtown cultural centre when the Capitol Theatre became available on the market. Assessments of the building were arranged and financial resources assembled so an offer could be placed on the Capitol by the end of 1999. This original offer on the Capitol expired as negotiations between the City and the owners of the land for a new multiplex bogged down.
The City of Moose Jaw through the lobbying effort of AIM established a feasibility study on the cultural centre project. Completed in 2000, the feasibility study recommended incorporating two adjacent heritage buildings in the city's downtown for the new cultural facility. The former Army and Navy Department Store, built in 1918 and left empty when the company phased out all its Saskatchewan stores beginning in 1999, would provide the base for the visual arts facility. The feasibility study determined that this building could accommodate the required art spaces, support services for the performing arts centre, and the majority of public and administrative spaces needed. The Capitol Theatre - if it became available - would enjoy new life as a performing arts and retro-cinema Theatre. The study recommended working with a historical consultant to restore the interior to its original 1913 state complete with emblazoned cherubs, plaster ceiling, mirrored pillars and marble stairways. Arts In Motion used some of its funds to purchase the Army and Navy building, and hoped a second opportunity for the Capitol would come around.
In the Spring of 2001, a new modern multiplex Theatre opened in Moose Jaw, offering stiff competition to the owners of the Capitol Theatre. The Capitol Theatre was sold to AIM and in the fall of 2001, AIM donated both properties to the City, which then took over ownership of the project and all that it entails.
Thanks to their long history within the community, these two brick buildings have been designated Municipal Heritage Properties. A solid, two-storey, red brick structure, the Army and Navy building was completed in 1918 as the offices and stores for the Merchants' Bank of Canada. In the 1940's, it was converted to a department store and remained in service until 1999.
The task of assembling the dollars needed to complete the project was turned over to the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre Builders Inc., a non-profit corporation of volunteers formed in April 2001 for the purpose of raising the remaining funds required. The necessary funds were raised in time for construction to start in 2002, and the facility opened to coincide with the City's centennial celebrations in 2003.
Those involved envision the cultural centre as part of a renaissance of the city's downtown that began in 1996 with the construction of Temple Gardens Mineral Spa. The new cultural centre will contribute enormously to enhancing the downtown's infrastructure, and will complement the Spa and the new Casino Moose Jaw, as well as other nearby attractions like The Tunnels of Moose Jaw (a theme development based on Moose Jaw's notorious gangster past), the River Street Restoration project, and a new Tourist Information Centre. There's no question, Moose Jaw's Cultural Centre is right in step with the times. – less – More from ZoomInfo »
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