Conrad Centre donated to City of Kitchener
The City of Kitchener has been gifted the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts, located at 36 King Street West in the downtown core.
The donation was made by the Manfred and Penny Conrad Family Foundation and Manfred and Penny Conrad.
The city says the 24,000 square foot facility will be used to strengthen the region's performing arts.
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“Kitchener is extremely thankful to the Conrads and their foundation for this remarkable donation to our community. This cultural facility will play a pivotal role in continuing to build and transform both our downtown and Kitchener’s vibrant arts & cultural community,” Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, said in a release. “Our community recognizes the transformative power of the performing arts and how they add to the quality of life of our residents. As we all look forward to connecting with each other once again post-pandemic, this remarkable gift to the residents of Kitchener will enable us to ensure that our cultural sector is poised to flourish in the coming decades.”
Previously known as the King Street Theatre Centre, the facility, which opened in 2001, features a 300-seat theatre and versatile rehearsal hall.
“We are so proud of what the Centre has become – it’s wide and diverse artistic offerings that were intimately housed in such an incredible space. The Centre created so many great opportunities for connecting and enriching our community through music and the arts,” explained Manfred Conrad. “We are honoured to be gifting the Centre to the City of Kitchener to continue on this trajectory of enriching our community through the arts. The Conrad Family Foundation’s philanthropy has always centred on giving back to the community and making the arts central to its charitable giving.”
The city points out it will be reaching out to various stakeholders to learn how the building can serve as an even greater asset for the local arts and culture scene.
