Over the last several weeks we have been sharing some of the great acts that have performed at the Centre over the last 50 years as we prepare to mark our 50th anniversary this summer. Here is an excerpt from our 1980 annual report on the 1st decade of operations.
As a permanent commemoration of the Centennial of Confederation in Canada, the Centre was jointly financed by the Government of Saskatchewan, the Government of Canada and the City of Regina.
For the Past ten years, the Centre has provided outstanding theatrical and convention facilities, and it has attracted over 2,400,000 patrons, artists and sponsors since it opened in 1970. Over 25,000 people have taken guided tours of the building
Top names in show business have performed to appreciative Southern Saskatchewan audiences.
The Centre of the Arts is indeed a great community resource. This is born out by the fact that the Regina Symphony has had the largest attendance for total appearances. More than 160,000 people have attended 150 performances of the Regina Symphony.
The largest box office gross for multiple shows (four) in Ten Years was Liberace, and the fastest box office sell out for a single performance was Guy Lombardo. The tremendous support of the community, local clubs and organizations have contributed much to the success of the Centre.
The Centre's "aim" to enhance the quality of life of people in the area served by the Centre has been realized by providing "something for everyone" A dream that began with the people, that was implemented by the Provincial Government, that has reached fruition by providing a wider window on the world of the arts, has enabled all to add a broader dimension to their lives.
Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau had this message for the Centre of the Arts:
"The ancient and wonderful experience of the performing arts must liv on. All the dazzling new technical developments of communications cannot replace the dynamic rapport between writers, producers, actors, singers, musicians and audience which exists in a theatre. It is an experience full of the warmth of humanity which is all the more necessary to us in this age of automation."
The Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts is a multi functional Entertainment and Convention Centre of which Southern Saskatchewan residents can be justly proud.
Check back daily on our Facebook www.facebook.com/conexusartscentre and Instagram pages
www.instagram.com/conexusartscentre as we continue to share the great performers the Centre has had perform from our stage over
the last 50 years on our page and stories.
Take care everyone.