Arts Commons will no longer be known by that name starting next year, after a multi-million dollar donation by Calgarian Dave Werklund and his family.
The $75 million donation was announced on June 26, along with the name change for Arts Commons to the Werklund Centre.
The donation sees the name go into effect for Arts Commons in perpetuity, starting in the 2025-26 season.
“Getting to know the Werklund family has been a highlight of my time at Arts Commons, and I’m so incredibly grateful they’ve chosen this project as their love letter to Calgary for generations to come,” said Arts Commons CEO Alex Sarian.
“Today’s announcement aligns strongly with Dave’s and my belief that the world-class opportunities and experiences created at Werklund Centre be relevant, accessible, and impactful to all who are lucky enough to call Calgary and Alberta home.”
Arts Commons, which opened in 1985 as the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts, was named the EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts in 2001 after a then $2.6 million donation by the Edmonton based utility company.
Arts Commons became the name of the centre in 2014, after the naming rights expired.
The centre has been set to undergo a major transformation, with phases of that project creating a brand new performance venue along with renovations on the currently existing Arts Commons campus building.
The donation made by Werklund brought the total financial contributions made towards ACT to $498.5 million out of a total of $660 million goal.
Previous funding included $315.5 million from the City of Calgary, and $103 million from the Government of Alberta.
“The transformation of Arts Commons and Olympic Plaza are integral to the revitalization of Calgary’s downtown. This transformational gift is testament to the best of Calgary. Calgarians are leaders, they are visionaries, and they are committed to ensuring everyone who lives here and comes to visit have access to world class experiences,” said Mayor Jyoti Gondek.
“The generosity of Mr. Werklund and leadership of Arts Commons are an embodiment of the amazing strides being made in our city.”
Arts Commons said that the funding would be used towards the construction costs for the transformation project, create a Dave Werklund Education Wing, as well as establish four endowment funds towards education, accessibility, operations, and towards the name change in perpetuity.
Weklund said that he has believed in principle-centred leadership, integrity, and trust and those were among the reasons for the donation.
“It is my sincere hope that Werklund Centre will be run with these principles in mind, and through its innovative programs, be a force for positive change, bringing families across all sectors of our communities together,” he said.
