Penmar Community Arts Society gets funding boost

PENTICTON – The Penmar Community Arts Society have a new sponsor who is also providing the theatre initiative to turn the movie house into a performing arts centre with a financial boost.

The Penticton accounting firm White Kennedy Chartered Professional Accountants has made a $5,000 donation to the society while acquiring naming rights.

Society president Kerry Milton says White Kennedy joins Meiklejohn Architects as business partners sponsoring the theatre.

The venue continues to be run by the society, while a co-operative initiative where members will have an opportunity to purchase investment shares in the theatre building and property continues to attract investors.

Residents can support the theatre initiative as a member of the society or as an investor in the co-op, or both. Co-op members do not need to belong to the society, and society members do not need to belong to the co-op.

Plans call for a revitalized Penmar Theatre to bring cultural activities from film to live performances to the downtown area. The theatre will cater to local talent, travelling performers and run a variety of foreign, classic and second run films.

Work is continuing on the building itself as plans are in the works for a new front facade, a licensed concession, and new washrooms are constructed.

An information session for the public is planned for Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m. at Cowork Penticton, located at 125 Eckhardt Avenue East.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.