Conexus Arts Centre facts for kids
Conexus Arts Centre
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| Former names | Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts |
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| Location | 200A Lakeshore Drive Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Coordinates | 50°25′42.01″N 104°35′52.41″W / 50.4283361°N 104.5978917°W |
| Type | Performing arts center |
| Capacity | 2,031 |
| Opened | August 24, 1970 |
The Conexus Arts Centre is a large building in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. It's a special place for shows, concerts, and events. You can find it in Wascana Centre, a big park area.
From 1970 until 2006, it was known as the Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts. Many people still call it by that name. This centre took the place of older theatres in downtown Regina. It also replaced Darke Hall, which was on the university campus.
Contents
History of the Arts Centre
How the Centre Was Planned
The idea for the Conexus Arts Centre started as a way to celebrate Canada's 100th birthday in 1967. This celebration was called the Canadian Centennial. The plan was to build a new arts centre for everyone to enjoy.
Building Challenges and Opening
Building the centre faced some challenges. The cost went up a lot after the steel frame was put in place. Because of this, construction stopped for almost two years. To get the project going again, some of the original plans for expensive materials were changed.
After this long delay, the Centre of the Arts finally opened. The Governor General Roland Michener officially opened it on August 24, 1970. The total cost to build it was $7.7 million.
What the Centre Was Used For
The centre was built to be a hub for performing arts and exhibitions in southern Saskatchewan. It also hosted university events, like graduation ceremonies. The University of Regina is right next door.
Students at the nearby university campus even had a funny nickname for the building. They called it the "world's largest monkey bars" when it was just a steel frame. Over the years, the building has been updated to look more like the first designs.
New Name for the Centre
Since 2006, the centre has had a new name: the Conexus Arts Centre. This is because Conexus Credit Union bought the rights to have their name on the building. This is called "naming rights."
What's Inside the Conexus Arts Centre?
Building Design and Materials
The building was designed by a team of architects: Izumi, Arnott, and Sugiyama. It is made from special materials like Estevan brick and Manitoba Tyndall Stone. These materials give the building a unique look.
Main Performance Areas
The Conexus Arts Centre has several important spaces:
- Main Theatre: This is the biggest theatre, with seats for 2,031 people. It has three balconies. The stage is very large, and the front part can even lower down. This creates a pit for up to 100 musicians to play.
- Convention Hall: This hall can seat 1,400 people for events or 1,000 for banquets. It used to be known by other names like Doris Knight Hall.
- Other Rooms: There are also many conference rooms and lobby areas for displays.
Home to the Regina Symphony Orchestra
The centre is the home of the Regina Symphony Orchestra. When the centre opened, the orchestra moved their concerts here from Darke Hall. The Conexus Arts Centre also replaced older downtown movie theatres that used to host plays.
The Globe Theatre also performed here when the centre first opened. Later, in 1981, they moved to their own permanent space in the old post office building. The Conexus Arts Centre also shares hosting duties for Telemiracle with TCU Place in Saskatoon.
Events and Activities at the Centre
Since it opened, the Conexus Arts Centre has welcomed many famous performers from around the world. Even though Regina is a smaller city, big names like Monty Python's Flying Circus and Van Cliburn have performed there.
Besides being a theatre and concert hall, the centre is used for many other things. It hosts local performers and travelling shows. The University of Regina holds its graduation ceremonies there. It's also a popular place for private events, like wedding receptions.
