Spotlight on the Marlowe Foundation

If you've spent any time in downtown St. John's over the past few years, you've likely noticed that the old Masonic building on Cathedral Street is getting quite the makeover.

When they purchased the iconic building from Spirit of Newfoundland Productions in 2022, Morgan and Duncan MacRae started to put their plans into motion of turning the space into a local arts and cultural hub. They've been singularly focused on that vision ever since and recently, formed the Marlowe Foundation to help see their plans through. 

This week in our Spotlight, we catch up with Morgan to learn more about her own connection to the arts, the MacRae's big (and ever-growing) plans as they work on restoring and reimagining the iconic space, and how they're supporting the local community through the work of the Foundation. 

Morgan MacRae greets attendees at the launch of the Marlowe Foundation, December 2025. Photo: Dave Howells

Business & Arts NL: First, can you introduce yourself to our readers?

Morgan MacRae: I’m Morgan MacRae, co-founder of the Marlowe Foundation and the Masonic Project, alongside my husband, Duncan MacRae.

I was born and raised in Seal Cove, Conception Bay South, and have been living in Victoria, B.C. since 2008, which is where Duncan and I met. We have two daughters who are our main focus, but we’re really grateful to maintain such a strong connection to Newfoundland and Labrador through the Foundation.

My background is in community building and event production, particularly within the arts and festival world. Earlier in my career, I worked with the B.C. Provincial Government’s Ministry of Finance. I’ve also served as a board member and treasurer for several nonprofit organizations, in addition to working as a staff accountant.

My interest in community building really took shape through my work with nonprofits that supported local artists — everything from grant programs to large-scale art protests and multi-day festivals.

In addition to my work with the Foundation and the Masonic development, I’ve stayed connected to my home province as a volunteer board member with the Resource Centre for the Arts/LSPU Hall.

Business & Arts NL: What inspired you to purchase the old Masonic Temple property downtown?

Morgan MacRae: Even though I’ve lived away from home for many years, staying connected to this community has always been important to me — and it’s something we want our kids to understand and appreciate as well. Duncan is also a huge fan of St. John’s and a very proud “honorary Newfoundlander.”

Thinking back 20-plus years, I was very much a theatre kid. I loved music and spent a lot of time going to shows and small festivals. The Masonic Temple was a popular venue for up-and-coming rock shows, and somehow the Masons trusted a group of teenagers to take it over for the night. Because of that, the building has always held a special place in my heart

Fast forward to 2022; Duncan and I were visiting with our oldest daughter, who was still a baby at the time. We were walking downtown, passed the Masonic, and I started telling him stories about the shows we used to put on there. He noticed it was for sale and suggested we go in and take a look. One thing led to another… and we ended up buying it.

From the beginning, we knew we wanted to bring the building back to life and preserve its legacy as an arts and cultural space while paying homage to its past, including the incredible work of Spirit of Newfoundland; and maybe, just maybe, create a place where young people trying to make something happen could come and do their thing.

Since then, we’ve worked with architects and consultants and built a strong local team to help us explore what’s possible. It’s been quite a journey — from design iterations and interior demolition to community engagement, business planning and giving back — all of which ultimately led to the creation of the Marlowe Foundation.

Masonic team with architectural and technical theatre consultants during a site visit in June 2025.

Business & Arts NL: Can you tell us a bit more about the Marlowe Foundation and what it hopes to accomplish?

Morgan MacRae: We formally established the Foundation in late 2024. From the outset, our goal was to complement the Masonic project by supporting the broader arts and cultural sector — and the community more generally.

So far, in Newfoundland and Labrador alone, we’ve supported more than 20 organizations, contributing over $200,000 across a wide range of causes — including the arts, social equity, housing, food security, family resources and animal welfare. We’re incredibly grateful for the work these organizations do, especially during such challenging times.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve also had the privilege of serving on the board of the Resource Centre for the Arts/LSPU Hall, a true cornerstone of our performing arts community. During that time, we’ve supported community engagement initiatives that brought together artists and cultural leaders for meaningful conversations.

We’re also really excited to share that Marlowe has entered into a three-year funding agreement with RCA, focused on expanding their capacity. Their work is essential not only to the arts sector, but to the broader community, and we’re proud to support that growth.

Looking ahead, we’re currently in the process of hiring an executive director for the Foundation. We’ve engaged a firm to support the search and are now in the interview stage.

As for the Masonic — the Foundation’s flagship project — we’re in the design development phase. Working with theatre design specialists and our architectural team has helped us better understand what’s possible within the space.

What’s become clear is that our vision is ambitious — and that space is limited. While progress may seem gradual from the outside, we’re being very intentional to ensure the Masonic becomes a sustainable, long-term community asset.

That’s why we’re excited to share that our patience has paid off. In late 2025, Duncan and I purchased a neighbouring property on Gower Street.

This opens up a whole new range of possibilities — giving us more space, more flexibility and the opportunity to create a true cultural corner while respecting the heritage of the area.

Because of this, we’ve gone slightly back to the drawing board on the original plans, but we truly believe it will lead to something stronger. We’re now working closely with our design team and the City of St. John’s to explore how the properties might be connected.

Duncan MacRae during a site visit at The Masonic in November 2023.

Business & Arts NL: I understand that you've also consulted with artists and arts groups as part of your planning process. What kind of feedback have you gotten from them?

Morgan MacRae: Since the beginning of this journey, one of the strongest themes we’ve heard is just how valuable it is for the arts community to have opportunities to come together and connect — and that there’s a real need for more of those moments.

We’ve also consistently heard that access to physical space is a major challenge. Rehearsal space, in particular, comes up again and again, especially for disciplines like dance.

Beyond the arts sector, there’s also interest in spaces with character and charm that can host a variety of events, including things like weddings and community gatherings.

Another important piece of feedback has been around the need to better support young and emerging artists. Opportunities can be quite limited, especially during the transition from high school into professional practice, and particularly in rural parts of the province.

And finally, there’s a sense that the full impact of arts and culture isn’t always widely recognized. It touches so many aspects of our lives — from health and wellness to education, the environment, tourism and human rights — and truly underpins so much of what makes our communities thrive.

To learn more about the Marlowe Foundation, visit themarlowefoundation.ca.