Calgary’s population is projected to triple since Arts Commons opened its doors in 1985 (as has Arts Commons’ annual visitors), and diversified significantly, bringing an increased need for access to a diverse range of gathering spaces. We have maximized all available capacity to achieve revenues from our current venues, turning away approximately 600 revenue-generating events every year. If we are to continue to increase earned revenues and be financially sustainable over the long term, we must add more revenue generating spaces. 

Similarly, Olympic Plaza will restore an aging Calgary cultural landmark as a seamless extension of Arts Commons and foster continued revitalization of the downtown core.

The new Arts Commons Campus (including both ACT and OPT) will contribute to an economically diverse community, aligning with Calgary and Alberta’s long-term vision, and contribute to the cultural fabric of Calgary, both attracting and retaining talent, building life-long Calgarians. 

Additionally, this transformational project will have both an immediate (during construction) and a long-term (annually thereafter) economic impact, through job creation and economic activity. The expanded use of the facility will result in a healthy annual operating surplus, providing future sustainability.

The Expansion of Arts Commons will add approximately 45% more seating capacity and additional gathering spaces for the community. Olympic Plaza will be renewed in conjunction to ensure an integrated campus and community experience. The Modernization of the current Arts Commons facility will be completed after the expansion and renewal of Olympic Plaza are complete.

The Expansion will be completed first so the resident companies and user groups that use the current facility have somewhere to operate while Modernization is underway. The expanded use will generate enough revenue to sustain the existing facility operations.

Teatro will remain in its heritage building and continue to serve the Calgary community. The Arts Commons expansion will be located on the north side of the city block, north and east of Teatro. The project teams continue to work with Teatro to ensure our guest experience is world class.

The entire ACT and OPT project is projected to cost $660M, including $270M for the ACT expansion, $270M for the ACT modernization, and $70M for OPT. $498.5M is already secured from municipal, provincial, and private funders, ensuring full funded for both the ACT expansion and OPT.

A public fundraising campaign for the remainder of the project is currently underway.

ACT will position Arts Commons and the resident companies for future sustainability. The expanded use will generate enough revenue to sustain the existing facility operations. 

ACT and OPT provide the opportunity to lean into today’s unique challenges to invest in a better tomorrow, supporting the creative economy and the growing arts and culture workforce, and contributing to an economically diverse community by jump-starting both short and long-term job creation and economic activity.

See our Impact page for more details.

Construction on the Arts Commons Transformation (ACT) expansion started in January 2025, and construction on the plaza will begin in earnest in 2027. Construction on both the ACT expansion and the Olympic Plaza Transformation (OPT) project is expected to be completed in 2028.

The design team has maximized the site’s functionality and flexibility by providing a more accessible, barrier-free layout that can support gatherings of up to 5,000 people. The new plaza will be equipped with significantly more power and water hook ups to better support events and gatherings of all kinds. The new design offers 96% of the old plaza’s usable space, while also accommodating the footprint of the Arts Commons Transformation (ACT) Expansion now underway on the west side of the block.

Arts Commons will serve as steward of the plaza once construction is complete, enabling a campus approach to programming, productions and placemaking that leverages both indoor and outdoor venues. Further details will be shared as operational details are refined prior to opening.

The gift of $75 million from Dave Werklund and family is the largest known single philanthropic gift to the performing arts sector in Canadian history, taking a generous leap towards our fundraising goal for Arts Commons Transformation (ACT) of $660 million.

With immense gratitude, Arts Commons will invest the $75 million gift towards construction costs, create the Dave Werklund Education Wing, as well as establish four funds to support the sustainability of the following institutional priorities: education, accessibility, operations, and an ongoing endowment to rename Arts Commons as Werklund Centre in perpetuity. 

Arts Commons will become Werklund Centre starting in September, 2025 – the start of the 2025-26 season of programming.

No, this gift will not change the names of the Jack Singer Concert Hall, Martha Cohen Theatre, Max Bell Theatre, Big Secret Theatre or Motel Theatre. With this gift, Werklund Centre becomes the name of the campus which encompasses everything within the new building, the current building, and Olympic Plaza.

Born and raised on a farm outside Valleyview, Alberta, Dave Werklund’s modest upbringing taught him the value of teamwork, innovation and caring for both his community and the land they depended on. That remained strong as his career in Alberta oil and gas grew: Recognizing an urgent need to resolve the industry’s environmental and waste management issues, Dave’s businesses have operated under the mantra “Protecting the air we breathe, the water we drink and the ground we walk on.” 

Despite never surpassing Grade 9 in school, Dave’s passion for higher learning compelled him to support others’ pursuits of formal education through the University of Calgary’s Werklund School of Education and the Werklund Agriculture Institute at Olds College. This gift marks a new era of such philanthropy for the Werklund family, but one that follows in this history of increasing creative learning opportunities in Alberta and recognizes the connection between equitable access to the arts, education, and our collective health and wellbeing.