Arts incubator project moves ahead with $17M boost from RMWB
FORT MCMURRAY, AB. — The long-awaited Arts Incubator in downtown Fort McMurray took a major step toward completion last night.
Regional council voted unanimously to purchase the former Landmark Cinema property from Arts Council Wood Buffalo for one dollar and allocate nearly $17 million from the Capital Infrastructure Reserve to the 2025 capital budget. The funding clears the way to finish the multimillion-dollar redevelopment and hand operations over to the Arts Council once complete.
The project will transform the downtown site into a hub for creativity, with galleries, performances, and production spaces designed to support both established and emerging artists. Backers say it could serve as a marquee cultural destination in the region’s core.
Several community leaders spoke in favour of the plan at Tuesday’s meeting, highlighting the need for balance between investment in sports and arts infrastructure. The project, they argued, aligns with municipal and cultural development goals while strengthening quality of life.
Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce CEO Dianna DeSousa said supporting the arts is a hallmark of thriving communities. “Modern communities invest in the arts along with roads, utilities and schools because the arts foster innovation, creativity and a sense of identity,” she told councillors, adding the project could create jobs and fuel the local creative economy.
Council’s decision secures a future for a project that has received strong community backing but struggled to close a funding gap. Advocates say the completed facility will be a defining feature of downtown Fort McMurray.
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