An alliance of 32 Vancouver performing arts organizations has unveiled a comprehensive vision for expanding the city’s cultural infrastructure, proposing the development of new concert halls and performance venues to address a significant shortage of adequate space. The proposal, born from a two-year study, highlights Vancouver’s critically low per-capita seating capacity compared to other major Canadian and international cities, hindering the ability of local artists, including acclaimed youth ensembles, to access suitable performance spaces.
The Need for Expanded Performance Venues
Suzanne Anton, chair of the Vancouver Concert Hall and Theatre Society, emphasized the urgency of the situation. “The Vancouver Youth Choir is the best in the world,” Anton stated, illustrating the problem. “Their Christmas concert could sell out the Orpheum twice. But they can’t get into the venue.” This anecdote underscores a broader challenge faced by the city’s vibrant arts scene: a lack of performance venues that meet the diverse needs of local organizations.
The study, conducted in consultation with the coalition of arts groups, revealed that Vancouver possesses only 0.52 seats per 1,000 residents. This figure falls considerably short of cities like Calgary, which offers 1.00 seat per 1,000 residents, and places Vancouver at the bottom among major Canadian and comparable international cities. The situation is exacerbated by the region’s growing population, which continues to widen the per-capita seating gap.
Current Venue Limitations
Downtown Vancouver currently offers a total of 6,250 arts performance seats. However, a significant portion of this capacity, 85 percent, is concentrated in two large venues: the 2,700-seat Orpheum and the 2,700-seat Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The next largest civic theatre, the Vancouver Playhouse, seats only 660, with The Annex accommodating just 190. This concentration in a few large venues leaves many performing arts groups without appropriate spaces.
Angela Elster, president and CEO of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO), noted that while the Orpheum is a beloved venue, it was not ideally designed for orchestral performances. “The sweet spot for a symphony orchestra is around 1,800 seats, and neither the Orpheum or Queen Elizabeth were designed for orchestra,” Elster explained. The VSO, like many other music and dance-based organizations, requires venues with excellent acoustics, a need that is not consistently met by existing facilities. “All 32 coalition organizations, all music and dance based, need good acoustics, and don’t have one Vancouver venue meeting demand,” Anton added.
Proposed Solutions and Locations
The coalition’s vision includes the development of a new Vancouver Cultural Precinct, with three potential locations under consideration: Robson Square, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and Vancouver Playhouse site, and the False Creek waterfront between B.C. Place and Science World. Each of these proposed sites would accommodate a comprehensive suite of new performance spaces designed to meet diverse artistic needs.
Components of the Proposed Cultural Precinct
The plan outlines the construction of several key facilities within the new precinct:
- A 2,000-seat, full-production facility proscenium theatre, suitable for large-scale theatrical productions and other events.
- A 1,700-seat concert hall, specifically designed with superior acoustics for musical performances, including orchestral concerts.
- An 800-seat performance theatre, offering a mid-size option for a variety of artistic presentations.
- A 400-seat multi-use space, providing flexibility for smaller performances, rehearsals, workshops, and community events.
These proposed venues are intended to function flexibly, allowing for a wide range of performances, from music and opera to touring acts, thereby maximizing their utility and supporting a diverse cultural calendar.
Architectural and Economic Considerations
Don Schmitt, principal architect at Diamond Schmitt, a firm with extensive experience in designing performance venues globally, commented on Vancouver’s need for tailored facilities. “Vancouver is very much in need of fine tuning the menu of performance spaces which fit the scale and needs of the arts organizations involved in this coalition,” Schmitt stated. He cited examples of successful projects, such as New York’s Geffen Hall and Lubbock’s Buddy Holly Hall, and highlighted the economic benefits of investing in cultural infrastructure.
Schmitt pointed to the return on investment seen in similar international projects, noting that London’s Southlands Arts Centre generates approximately $200 million annually and creates around 2,500 jobs. This suggests that the proposed Vancouver Cultural Precinct could not only serve the local arts community but also provide significant economic stimulus and employment opportunities.
Next Steps and Future Outlook
The immediate next step for the alliance is to evaluate the proposed locations and determine the most viable option for the new cultural precinct. While representatives from the City of Vancouver, the provincial government, and the federal government were present at the announcement to express support for the initiative, no specific funding commitments were made at the news conference. The coalition is hopeful that this detailed vision will pave the way for concrete discussions regarding the funding and development of these much-needed cultural facilities, ensuring Vancouver’s arts scene can thrive and meet the demands of its growing population and world-class artists.
