Centre for the Arts

There are more than 1,700 students taking fine and performing arts courses at Nipissing, scattered at the University’s main campus, the Monastery Hall facility or leased space at Canadore College. The core faculty and majors in the program have outgrown the Monastery Hall building and the old infrastructure (HVAC’s, ventilation, etc.) is no longer appropriate for the activities being undertaken. In 2008, the Province’s Undergraduate Program Review Audit Committee (UPRAC) recommended that the University centralize all of its fine and performing arts courses at a newly renovated and expanded Monastery Hall site.

Accordingly, the University is ready to proceed with a Phase 1 and 2, 38,399 sq. ft. renovation and expansion project to include a freestanding warehouse-style studio and gallery building adjacent to its existing Monastery facility and longer term, a Phase 3 freestanding concert hall.

The planned expansion will open up the space surrounding the Monastery, enabling staff, students and visitors to take full advantage of Nipissing’s beautiful setting. Doing so will also help to pull the Nipissing campus together from Monastery Hall to the main campus and to the residences.

The newly renovated space includes:

• Studio spaces with proper ventilation
• Art gallery
• Art storage areas
• A 120 seat, sound proof lecture hall for film, art history and other university courses
• Sculpture studio and foundry
• A printmaking and lithography studio
• Music education rooms with adequate storage
• A music education room and ensuite breakout rooms
• Secure storage for music
• Keyboard lab
• Practice rooms
• Office space for faculty

For further information concerning this initiative, please contact Gil Pharand, Development Officer at 705-474-3450 ext. 4361 or email gilp@nipissingu.ca.