The Empress Cultural Centre Inc. is a volunteer- based non profit charitable corporation located in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Montreal.

The mission of the corporation is to revitalize the former Cinema V building at 5560 Sherbrooke Street West, opposite NDG Park, and to return it to full community use as a cultural meeting place and platform for Montreal's extensive artistic community. The corporation holds a 60 year lease from the City of Montreal on this handsome landmark building.

The building, originally constructed in 1927 as The Empress Theatre, will be completely renovated and transformed into a multifunctional performing arts centre for established and emerging professional artists in the visual and performing arts, with emphasis on education and the creation, production, and promotion of cultural events.

• A 350 seat theatre
• A 125 seat 'Black Box' Theatre for experimental and smaller performances
• A 50 seat cabaret space on the mezzanine
• Office, studio and teaching space

The Empress organization has a Board of Directors composed of members of the community, including representatives from the City of Montreal, Geordie Productions, Black Theatre Workshop, and The McGill Conservatory of Music.

Geordie Productions and Black Theatre Workshop are well established and successful professional theatre companies which have long sought a permanent residence. As the Empress Cultural Centre's resident companies, they will be able to further develop and cultivate their relationship to their core audiences, and at the same time acquire new flexibility to expand their activities. The theatre companies' commitment to the project is unwavering and they have worked determinedly to ensure its success.

The McGill Conservatory Community Program of the Schulich School of Music has a mandate of community outreach in music education for all ages and abilities. The Conservatory intends to use the Empress studio and performance spaces to provide educational opportunities in a district which has a large student population, enabling aspiring young musicians to develop their abilities closer to home. McGill University has already invested time and financial resources in the project, and its commitment is continuing.

Once it is completed, the Empress Cultural Centre will become the cultural heart of the West End.

The unique and impressive façade will once again welcome residents, students and visitors as they pass through its doors to enjoy theatre, music and the visual arts. The artistic community will finally have a much-needed new venue located west of the downtown core, which is also easily accessible by metro, bus routes, and major thoroughfares.

With activity around the clock at the Empress - from daytime musical instruction to evening performances - local businesses will benefit. More people will be drawn to the neighbourhood, thus creating a vibrant and lively streetscape, which will be enjoyed both by those living in the area and visitors from across the city.

At the heart of it all will be the Empress Cultural Centre.