New performing arts centre gets $3.5M donation from Fredericton couple
Venue will be named Ron & Erma Hawkes Centre for the Arts after the people who made the donation
The new Fredericton performing arts centre, under construction at King and Regent streets downtown, finally has a name.
It will be called the Ron & Erma Hawkes Centre for the Arts, after a New Brunswick couple who donated $3.5 million to the project.
Tim Yerxa, the executive director of Fredericton Playhouse Inc., said almost all donations to the centre's fundraising campaign have come from New Brunswickers.
"The need for the performing arts in our society today, and it's always been the case, is about bringing people together to have shared experiences," said Yerxa.
"And today, more than ever, we need to ... feel like we're part of the community, to feel like we're a part of something.
"So to have donors step forward and say, 'This is something that we believe in and we're here to support you and we want to be part of it,' is really incredible."
The plan for the centre, which is expected to be completed in late 2026, is to have two theatres, with the main one able to accommodate 800 people.
The most recent cost estimate for the performing arts centre totals about $82 million, including $46.6 million from the federal government, $22.6 million from the city, $2.3 million from the anticipated sale of the current playhouse property and $10 million from the fundraising campaign — which Yerxa said is now complete.
Tenders have gone out and some have been awarded, so an update on the cost of the project should be available in the next few weeks, he said.
The Hawkes didn't want to speak to the media about their donation, but he said they have always been involved in the arts.
Erma Hawkes, who is originally from Chipman, is a singer and pianist, as well as the choir director at her church and a former music educator, he said.
Originally from Woodstock, Ron Hawkes has also been part of singing groups and choirs and formerly served as the president of the Bathurst Music Festival, according to a news release.
Ron's career, which was in mineral exploration and mine development, moved the family abroad, but they returned to Fredericton in their semi-retirement years, Yerxa said.
"Part of what makes this story and this announcement so incredible is that these are Fredericton folks making a contribution to their community."
Over a year ago, the Playhouse announced that the 300-seat theatre planned for the arts centre's second floor would be named after late philanthropist Wilma Clark.
Yerxa said part of the plan for the centre is to make sure every donor is recognized.
"We have nearly 1,000 people who have made donations ranging from $5 to 3.5-million," he said.
"Every donation is important, and we want to inscribe every person's name in the facility ... so when you go into the building and you see the names of donors on various spaces, you get a sense of community that maybe we wouldn't have otherwise had in just an institutional building."
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