Through a federal investment of more than $940,000, the Government of Canada and the City of Woodstock will expand and improve the Woodstock Art Gallery.
Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, and Jerry Acchione, Mayor of the City of Woodstock, formally announced this funding to support retrofits to the fourth floor of the gallery.
Currently occupying three floors of the former John White Building, the Woodstock Art Gallery is the only municipal public gallery in Oxford County. The gallery hosts classes, workshops, and programs, in addition to showcasing and celebrating the talent of local, regional, and national artists. This project will support renovating the fourth, and only unused, floor in the building to make additional space for cultural and educational programs.
Repairing and upgrading the top floor will help the gallery meet the high demand for its art classes and workshops, artist talks, performances, and community events - activities that often serve local seniors, youth, and people with disabilities. In addition, the investment will help extend the life of the building, while also making it safer and more energy efficient. Once complete, these improvements are expected to reduce the facility's energy consumption by an estimated 26.6% and greenhouse gas emissions by 37.8 tonnes annually.
