M.J. Cultural Centre presents modern art from historic

Venues

Mae Wilson Theatre historic venue with great acoustics

Moose Jaw has become a place where contemporary culture mingles with the city’s beautiful, historic aesthetic. The downtown core hosts a plethora of opportunities to step back in time, with its early 20th Century brick construction and commercial facades lining sidewalks bustling with pedestrians.

The Moose Jaw Cultural Centre - which includes the Mae Wilson Theatre and Visual Arts Gallery - sits amid this feature sector at 217 Main Street, pairing two primary examples of the city’s historic theme.

tered the “talking pictures” business and became The Capitol which was owned by various operators for the next 72 years.

In 2003, the venue was carefully renovated into the Mae Wilson Theatre as part of the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre. The beautiful interior, with its ornate wall and ceiling treatments, and soft-curved corners, is an excellent example of early 20th Century architectural design.

The Cultural Centre’s Visual Arts Gallery, meanwhile, sits next door where it showcases the work of visual and fine craft artisans from Moose Jaw and the surrounding area. The mediums on display, which are melded into a new exhibit every six weeks, include oil, acrylic and watercolour painting, ceramics, sculpture, glass, photography and more.

The second floor of the Visual Arts Gallery holds the Cultural Centre’s administrative offices and studio space available to local artists and artistic organizations. The facility hosts a variety of arts programming, with workshops open to the public on a seasonal basis.

Like its partnering theatre, the home of the Visual Arts Gallery has a long history in the city. Built in 1909, it was the temporary location for the Merchants Bank until housing retail businesses until 1945. The Army and Navy chain of stores took over

The Mae Wilson Theatre has a lifeline that reaches back more than 100 years. Today, it hosts some of the best local, provincial and Canadian musical and performing arts talent on its ornate stage. Shows are held throughout the year, with a summer schedule that stretches into August. Its June 2023 schedule opens with the stage play, “Anastasia” on June 1, followed by a CINEVIEW doubleheader of short films by local director Jeremy Ratzlaff on June 7.

But legends of the Canadian country music landscape will be in town June 14. “Lunch at Allen’s” presents Murray McLauchlan, Ian Thomas, Cindy Church and Marc Jordan for an evening of music that is sure to trigger pleasant memories among the listeners.

A full calendar of events is available at its website as bookings are established.

The Mae Wilson Theatre was constructed from 1913 to 1916 as the Monarch Theatre. At the time, it was the largest venue of its kind in the province. A little more than a decade later, the facility en- the use of the building until 2000. A year later, the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre was established within its historic walls.

For more information about the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre, visit its website at moosejawculture. ca, or visit them on Facebook and Instagram. The Mae Wilson Theatre Box Office is open Tuesday to Saturday, Noon to 5 p.m. and can be reached at 306.693.4700. Tickets to Moose Jaw Cultural Centre events are also available at SaskTix.ca.