Time to take arts centre plans to the next stage
By Lethbridge Herald on April 25, 2017.
Two years ago, the Performing Arts Centre Advocacy Group began meeting to explore options to keep the vision of a new performing arts centre project a priority for our community. Our main purpose has been to bring awareness to the broader community about why a Lethbridge Performing Arts Centre is needed and to take planning to the “next stage.”
With all venues booked to capacity for years to come, the reality is that there is no room in our community for growth in the performing arts. On Monday, April 3, the Performing Centre Advocacy Group presented to the city’s Finance Committee and requested the inclusion of a Performing Arts Centre in the next Capital Improvement Plan. We want to thank both council for that opportunity, and the community, for their tremendous encouragement and support as result of that presentation.
As demonstrated during the presentation, 17 years of needs assessments and studies for a Performing Arts Centre have already been conducted by the city. Should council approve our $375,000 request to review and affirm past studies and conceptual designs; choose a site; and finalize an operating model, the reality is that almost $1,000,000 will have been invested in this project to date. This investment indicates the value past and present city councils have placed in the arts in Lethbridge. Therefore, we believe the time has come for city council to accelerate this project and advance the Performing Arts Centre to the top of their priorities in the 2018–2027 CIP. Please add your voice to ours.
Our city is already home to amazing talent. What a wonderful tribute it would be to future artists if they were to have an opportunity to share their talent/perform in a new Performing Arts Centre. Moving forward with vision, courage and wise stewardship, the building of a new Performing Arts Centre would provide this council with a legacy that will be appreciated by Lethbridge and region performers and audiences for decades to come.
Dianne King
on behalf of the Performing Arts Centre Advocacy Group
Lethbridge
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