The Latest from Knox Next Stage
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Musicians Franklin Brasz and Marcus Nance are inspired by life in Stratford. Read on for information on tickets to Stratford Signatures to see them and others perform!
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Members of Stratford’s Knox Presbyterian Church congregation recently received a letter from the leadership team guiding the redevelopment that provided a late spring update. The letter reported that the Knox Next Stage project, involving a partnership with the Stratford Arts and Culture Collective (SACC), is proceeding on a number of fronts over the summer. At this stage a major development partner who is ready to take on a complex project involving church functions, a performing arts space, and a residential component has not been identified, however.
All options for the re-development of the Knox property, including various configurations of sale and retention, are still on the table. Over the summer, various options will be researched and presented in a decision-making report to the congregation in early fall.
Activity over the summer includes:
- A land survey of the full property and a professional appraisal that confirms the property’s current value and potential value under several re-development options.
- Ongoing work with the Trinity Centres Foundation (TCF) whose consultants provide best practice information from other church conversions and planning support. TCF’s Rev. Graham Singh and Kendra Fry have reminded the project team that the planning complexities Knox is experiencing have been faced by many other congregations. TCF is also on the lookout for appropriate development partners for the project.
- A continuing partnership with the Stratford Arts and Culture Collective (SACC) and a shared vision for the creation of a performing arts space in the sanctuary.
At a congregational meeting in early fall, the congregation will receive a substantial project update with clear options.
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This month, don’t forget to watch Stratford Signatures, an on-demand video presentation produced by SACC and Ballinran Entertainment that offers nearly two hours of exceptional entertainment.
This dazzling production is available for viewing at your leisure between June 19 and 27. You can watch the entire show, or view it in segments, or over and over!
Some of Stratford’s best-known artists - Loreena McKennitt, Marcus Nance and Franklin Brasz, Graham Abbey, and Anika and Britta Johnson - were filmed inside Knox for this tribute to the arts in Stratford. Colin Mochrie and Debra McGrath, Canada’s funniest couple, are your hosts and will entertain you in their own, uniquely comic style.
Thanks to Ballinran, the production values are off the chart, so you'll notice the high-definition video and stereo sound quality.
Tickets can be purchased at https://stageview.ca/stratfordsignatures.
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The Knox Next Stage project team is also putting out the call to the local community to share stories about the powerful and historic connection Knox Church has with local arts and culture. The team is looking for photos, videos and stories about the arts events you remember at Knox. Like the times you thrilled to the sounds of the Stratford Symphony Orchestra or Loreena McKennitt, applauded the many troupes participating in the World Festival of Children’s Theatre, lived through that amazing, and very hot, night that Measha Brueggergosman performed with New York’s Harlem Gospel Choir (Btw, air conditioning is in the long-term plan!), or enjoyed a Stratford Festival sponsored event.
Knox Church has been associated with phenomenal arts events for decades. We’d like to create and share a storyboard that lets us all revel once more in those memories. Submit your best memories to KnoxNextStage@gmail.com.
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The Knox project team want to keep you plugged in as this initiative progresses. They welcome you to visit the project website at KnoxNextStage.com for regular updates and Frequently Asked Questions about the project. You can also send your questions and comments to us at KnoxNextStage@gmail.com.
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