The Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts has won an award from the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce.

The Isabel received the Business Achievement Award in the tourism/hospitality category in recognition of the role it plays in Kingston and in attracting visitors through its programming of world-class and emerging artists and state-of-the-art venue.

“We were thrilled to receive this award from the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce. What an honour it was to receive it,” says Tricia Baldwin, Director of the Isabel. “The Isabel has been working on cultural tourism and national and international recognition of this magnificent, state-of-the-art performing arts centre with terrific results. Our focus is on excellence in programming, attracting top emerging and established artists to our stage. We are also investing in imaginative interdisciplinary programming which has been so stimulating for Queen's students, faculty and staff as it has been for the community at large and tourists attracted to this top tier destination.  It is this focus on excellence and innovation that has enabled us to reach beyond Kingston. The Chamber recognized both the quality of this new arts centre and the efforts to attract cultural tourists to this wonderful city.” 

Opened in September 2014, The Isabel offers a 90,000 square foot venue that includes a studio theatre, a film screening room, an Art and Media Lab and a music rehearsal hall.

Since then, the Isabel has presented a performance series of the best local, national and international artists and many community initiatives while, at the same time, supporting the development of emerging artists.

The Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts was made possible by a transformational gift from Alfred Bader (Sc’45, Arts’46, MSc’47, LLD’86) and his wife Isabel (LLD’07) as well as the financial backing of the federal and provincial governments, the City of Kingston and additional philanthropic support. The Isabel is a hub for artistic study, creation, exhibition and performance at Queen’s. It is home to the Department of Film and Media and also provides learning and working space for the university’s other creative arts disciplines.