Lethbridge advocacy group aims to end confusion over new performing arts centre
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LETHBRIDGE – City Council will soon begin deliberations over which groups will receive a portion of the $60 million dollars available in its 2018- 2027 Capital Improvement Plan budget.
In total, requests for more than $200 million dollars were received, including one from the Lethbridge performing arts centre advocacy group, for $375,000 for:
A concept design
Funding strategy
Operation and management plan
Project management plan
and
Location confirmation for a new performing arts centre in the city
It was also to confirm the results of the two previous studies completed by Ferrari Westwood Babit Architects in 2010 and 2011.
The previous studies called for a performing arts centre to be built beside the current CASA building, which would mean closing off 7th Street to all traffic, to allow for a 1250 seat theatre to be built.
The building would border Galt Gardens, and would create an “arts corridor” of sorts, with the theatre, CASA (the arts educational facility), and the Southern Alberta Arts Gallery (SAAG) located within steps of one another.
The economic impact at the time, was expected to bring in an extra $1 million annually to the downtown core, and according to the initial study, would likely aid in more restaurants and businesses opening their doors to service those who utilized a potential theatre on a regular basis. The caveat was that any potential development would have to fit in the “Heart of Our City Master Plan,” ensure adequate transportation and pedestrian access and social infrastructure plans.
“The first study was larger and it was a bit too rich for City Council in 2010,” explains Dianne King, arts centre advocacy spokesperson. “They commissioned then, another study in 2011, which reduced the size from 1250 seats to possible 975, and a reduction of about $15 million in costs.”
It was part of the 2014-2023 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and the city committed $10 million for the upcoming 2018-2027 CIP. The money would be granted if other sources of funding was found for the remaining $50-million.
From there, the plans seem to have dissolved.
Kings says the city has done a great job meeting its goals in many areas, but the one that continues to stick out, is the need for the centre.
“I believe it’s because of the cost of a performing arts centre… they have also been achieving their goals vis-a-vis the arts in Lethbridge with the improvements to the Southern Alberta Art Gallery as well as to improvements at the Yates and Sterndale Bennett theatre. So I think that they see they have made progress. But in this regard, it has been on the books since 2000 as a priority for the city, and we believe it’s time to get going to move it forward into action.”
The previous studies also identified a need for fundraising, or alternative sources of funding, which King says can’t get underway until concrete plans are given the go-ahead by council.
“We hope that the majority of it (performing arts centre) would be fully funded by the province, the federal government and the city. However we have already heard from people in our community that they would be more than willing to do some fund- assistance with various aspects, once they realize it’s definitely something that is going to happen.”
King adds that with Lethbridge now the 5th fastest growing city in the country, and the reality that the previous studies are 6 and 7 years old, the challenge for city council will be to decide how large a performing arts facility will be, and how many generations it will serve.
And if council does not approve the $375,000 request?
“If we don’t get this, our group will remain very active and indeed will grow. I’m anticipating and hoping we will see that we get this funding and that perhaps it may take us further, if they understand it’s not another study we are asking for. We could see actual design plans and be ready at the end of this four year period to be shovel ready.”
The Allied Arts Council has produced several videos to help the public understand the arts issues in Lethrbidge: Casa Confusion – Capacity Conundrum – Lethbridge is Boring!
For more information, please visit lethbridgeperformingartscentre.org.
Casa Facts:
