TORONTO.- Toronto Community Housing Corporation, The Daniels Corporation and Artscape announced that they will be working collaboratively with the local community on the development and operation of a vibrant new arts and cultural centre in Regent Park. The announcement comes on the heels of the commitment made today by the Honourable John Baird, Canada’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister, and the Honourable Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture for Ontario, on behalf of the Honourable Gerry Phillips, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure for Ontario that the Governments of Canada and Ontario will invest up to $12 million each in a new Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre.

The Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre will be a new multi-tenant arts centre located on Dundas Street East between Sumach and Sackville Streets and will be designed by the award-winning Diamond + Schmitt Architects.

Toronto Community Housing is leading the revitalization of Regent Park. It is a 10-year, $1.5-billion initiative that is transforming the community, creating better places to live and attracting new community amenities like a new community centre, world-class aquatic centre, new central park, retail outlets and now the arts and cultural centre. "The arts and cultural centre, in the heart of the revitalized Regent Park, will be a place where people from all across the city can come together to celebrate the arts, artists and this vibrant and diverse neighbourhood,” said Keiko Nakamura, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Toronto Community Housing. “It is an important part of Toronto Community Housing’s revitalization vision for Regent Park and we are proud to be supporting its realization along with The Daniels Corporation, our development partner, and Artscape as the facility operator.”

The Daniels Corporation is the development and construction partner for all phases of the Regent Park revitalization plan and will manage the construction of the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre. "The Daniels Corporation is thrilled to lead the construction of this vibrant and essential addition to the Regent Park revitalization.” said Martin Blake, Vice-President, The Daniels Corporation.

Artscape will be responsible for overseeing the development and ongoing operation of the facility. “Regent Park has a rich and diverse cultural heritage and Artscape is delighted to bring it to life as part of the revitalization.” said Tim Jones, President & CEO of Artscape.

The development of a new arts and cultural centre as part of the ongoing revitalization of Regent Park has been a standing ambition for Toronto’s east downtown and a long held aspiration of the Regent Park community. The Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre will anchor culture as a primary driver in the community’s revitalization, both physically and symbolically. The integration and celebration of Regent Park’s cultural richness in the revitalization will play a central role in its success and in the creation of a socially inclusive, livable, healthy, safe and vibrant neighbourhood. Tenants will be selected by an RFP process that will take place in early 2010. The non-profit arts community has already expressed strong interest in the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre.