The federal government is giving $2 million toward the extensive renovation of the Agnes Etherington Art Centre. The contribution, made through Canadian Heritage’s Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, will go toward renovating the historic Etherington House into a fully accessible “cultural hub and live-in artist residence” as part of the “Agnes Reimagined” project, states a release issued Monday afternoon.

The government funding will go toward the final design, engineering and renovation of Etherington House.

Specifically, it will be used to: make accessibility improvements; create a live/work studio for Indigenous community members and artists-in-residence; upgrade equipment; outfit three ground-floor spaces for presentation and exhibition; and make structural repairs to bring the building up to modern-day standards.

Etherington House will return to being a “home,” which is what the original bequest had intended, the release said.

“The renovation of the historic Etherington House at Agnes marks an exciting chapter not only for Agnes and Queen’s University, but also for Kingston and the rest of Eastern Ontario,” Mark Gerretsen, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, stated in the release.

“It enhances our dynamic arts and cultural landscape while also positioning our city and the surrounding region as a lively hub for creativity, innovation, and community engagement that fosters a rich environment where artists and audiences alike can thrive.”

Agnes’s director and curator, Emelie Chhangur, stated that “we are thrilled to welcome Canadian Heritage on your journey of transformation.

“This ($2 million) commitment is validating as it signals that together we can ensure the cultural institutions of Canada’s future will no longer be those of Canada’s colonial past.”

“By supporting this groundbreaking renovation,” Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge stated in Monday’s media release, “our government is making a significant investment in enhancing physical spaces for arts, heritage, culture and creative innovation, which demonstrates our commitment to Canada’s arts and cultural sector.”

Original story can be found on the Whig Standard’s website.