‘Bluesfest House’ to become a reality

Ottawa, Feb 11, 2013 – RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest organizers today announced final plans for ‘Bluesfest House’. The plans include breaking ground by the end of March, with hopes of moving into their new home before the end of 2013. Bluesfest House was conceived in 2011, when the Westboro United Church at 450 Churchill Avenue was conditionally donated to the Ottawa Bluesfest organization for a dollar. The concept that was developed included a complete renovation of the circa 1910 building. Bluesfest House will include space for a new community arts hub devoted to developing new musical talent through a teaching facility, as well as a small performance space. One third of the building will house offices for the RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest and Ottawa Folk Festival organizations. The remaining space will be made available for lease by other not-for-profits organizations, including other festivals who may want to locate in this exciting new arts building. Bluesfest is currently entertaining interest from other groups in the community. Two years in the making, Bluesfest has completed the successful financing for this $2 million project. The 2013 edition of the RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest will take place July 4-14. Organizers have already announced that BB King will be performing on July 14. “I am extremely happy with how the line-up is coming together, in fact I think it is safe to say the public can expect an earlier than normal line up announcement,” says executive director Mark Monahan. Festival organizers typically announce the line-up during the last week of April.