City names new Director of Culture & Entertainment and resumption of Conrad Centre operations

On Monday, the City of Kitchener named its first-ever Director of Culture and Entertainment and committed to the resumption of operations at the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts to support local arts and community groups.

On Monday, City Council approved a contract with Green Light Arts to provide interim operational support for the Conrad Centre on behalf of the City, including facility bookings, until June of 2024. The City recently assumed the operations of the Conrad Centre after the lease with KW Symphony ended due to the symphony’s declaration of bankruptcy. Green Light Arts had previously provided similar services through an arrangement with the KW Symphony at the Conrad Centre.

Jeremy Dueck was also announced on Monday as the City’s first Director of Culture and Entertainment. Jeremy has an extensive background in venue management, including being the Manager of The Aud since 2019.

Jeremy has a Master's degree in Sports Industry Management from Georgetown University and is a venue management sessional lecturer at the University of Waterloo. In his new role, Jeremy will work with the City’s performance venues to maximize the use of these facilities, improve audience experiences, and bring exciting and varied performances to Kitchener.

“When the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts was donated to the City by the Conrad family in 2021, Kitchener was presented with an opportunity to really embrace arts, culture and live entertainment,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “This week’s announcements of the selection of our first-ever Director of Culture & Entertainment and our continued partnership with Green Light Arts as interim operator of the Conrad Centre are both important next steps in achieving our goal of putting Kitchener on the map for arts and entertainment.”

Improving supports for All City-Owned Performing Arts & Entertainment Venues

In August, the City announced the creation of a new Culture & Entertainment team to support all City-owned arts and entertainment facilities, including the Conrad Centre, Centre In The Square, The Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex (The Aud), and The Registry Theatre. Key supports to facility operators will include: marketing and audience development, business services and other operational services.

Over the coming months, the City will be developing a long-term operating model for the Conrad Centre. In early 2024, the City will be engaging with local arts and culture organizations to help inform this new model, with recommendations expected to be presented to City Council in mid-2024.

“Our new Culture & Entertainment team will strengthen what we're already doing to make Kitchener an even more vibrant city,” said Ward 2 Councillor and Arts and Culture Advisory Committee member Dave Schnider. "These new shows and live performances will help make our community an even better place to live, benefit our artists, attract tourism and boost Kitchener’s economy.”

Local arts and culture organizations currently use the Conrad Centre for performances ranging from theatre and dance, to live music, comedy and more. Many organizations had previously reserved the Conrad Centre with the KW Symphony for upcoming shows. With Green Light Arts’ support, the City will be able to accommodate all of these performances, as well as new ones that may be booked in the coming months.

For more information on the Conrad Centre and how to book this facility, visit www.kitchener.ca/ConradCentre.

For more information, contact:

Shawn Falcao
Manager, Corporate Communications
shawn.falcao@kitchener.ca