Province gives $3M to community arts centre in Ancaster

The Ancaster Memorial School is transforming into a community arts centre with $3 million ofprovincial funding.

On Monday, Liberal MPP TedMcMeekin announced the provincialinvestment into the old school that the City of Hamilton purchased.

"We're in a community that's very gifted in terms of young local talent that will now have a hub right in the centre of the town," said McMeekin, who's the MPP for Ancaster, Dundas, Flamboroughand Westdale.

The arts centre is envisioned to have a 450-seat theatre, aseparatestudio theatre, a gallery and multiple rooms for art, theatre and dance.

Project details

There is an ongoing community fundraiser for the centre which has raised $2.29 million to date. Some donors include the Ancaster Mill and the Ancaster Village BIA.

The project began in 2011 when Lloyd Ferguson, ward 12 councillor in Hamilton, thought of the idea with Bob Wilkins from the AncasterBIA, according to the arts centre's website.

McMeekin said the construction is set to begin in spring of 2018 for a fall grand opening.