The Massey is going through a renaissance

It’s a big investment into a major community hub: in case you missed it, council last month approved a $20.1M investment in the Massey Theatre that will see improvements to its various roofs and exterior wall system, along with the removal of its North Wing gymnasium. Also coming soon are improved universal washrooms and new, much-needed elevators.

Despite the relatively large amount of money, there is still a ton of work that needs to be done, and executive director Jessica Schneider tells The Anchor this is only the beginning—especially since with a 25-year future signed and sealed between it and the City of New Westminster. The Massey will also need to work to find other sources of revenue to keep improving the space.

“Once that $20.1M has been invested, we can invest through private and corporate donors, and also other levels of government, things like that. By the end of this summer, we will have invested $2M and fundraised—mostly grants—in transforming the spaces that were former classrooms,” she says.

The Massey Theatre was first constructed in 1948, and ran its first production in 1949. It is named after Vincent Massey, who was the first Canadian appointed to serve as the Governor General of Canada. Known for his love of arts and culture, he was the man behind the Massey Report, which came out in 1951. That report established the Canadian Council, as well as the National Library of Canada.

There are currently nine programs that are running, with at least another seven in development. The programs in development include:

• A community kitchen

• The Present Yourself Studio Theatre Series

• The Old School Music Hall Series

• An art and makers shop

Along with the building proper, Schneider says there is still work to be done outside the space.

“We’re also doing a very large landscape project which is going to be an Indigenous public art installation and a gathering space on the front edge. It’s really going to change the way people enter, what I guess they’ve always perceived as NWSS and the high school theatre. It’s going to change the face and also our relationship to our spot on the street, and what we do there,” she says. As the theatre—like the school—is on space that was previously used in part as a burial ground, the gardens will serve as an opportunity for people to reflect on the some of the tougher parts of the city’s history.

As for the buildings, some of its newer iterations are being activated, with one of the rooms recently being used for a karaoke and trivia night.

“Our small theatre that has 70 seats, it’s going to be a perfect space for experimenting and new shows. We’re looking at a music hall in the former old gym,” notes Schneider, adding that she hopes the community will understand the significance of the $20M funding from the city.

“I think that with the city’s announcement, that’s the long view…not just us pushing, but we hope that everybody will start to take a long view, and not just think of the Massey as what it has been. It’s a 90,000 square foot arts centre. What do we really want that to be?”

Schneider says it’ll be important for the community to jump in and take ownership—and there are definitely multiple ways to do that. While fundraising is important, the actions of not just the staff—but the community—will be imperative in the success of the space.

“From the arts programming piece, the most important thing to do is come to something. If you came and bought a ticket twice a year, if everyone in town did that, then our financial position would be improved." And I think it’s important for everyone to know that the city is not funding the programming and the day-to-day operation of the facility,” she says, adding that the city is acting mainly as a landlord.

“We're spending a lot of money dealing with the old building and [doing] work around also transforming it. We anticipate a lot of growth as the building, gets fixed up, but it hasn't been yet, right? So, you know, we do need the community to kind of go on that ride with us. [To] make sure that we're here on the other side of that capital improvement, just by attending [shows and events].”

There are other ways to help the Massey thrive through this new stage, and you can set the stage for further success by either donating or becoming a member.

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