Art Society asks city to hold onto downtown Penticton lot for performing arts centre

PENTICTON – The Arts Centre Society has its eye on a downtown Penticton corner lot.

The South Okanagan Arts Centre Society will ask the city to hold onto the parcel of land located at 99 Nanaimo Ave. for another 16 months as the society works with other stakeholders to put together a proposal for a performing arts centre and report back to council.

The society presented a progress report to council in October 2016 requesting city support for its long-term vision, site security at the city-owned lot, and a five-year window in which to put together a plan and gather resources.

The group will be making another pitch to council for site security at tomorrow's regular meeting, Nov. 20.

The society hopes to organize a symposium aimed at bringing together experts in present day aspects of the performing arts along with representatives of the area’s arts community, the tourism industry and local planning professionals.

The symposium is expected to provide the information necessary for a report outlining the best options for financing, operating and programming for a performing arts facility, as well as providing a detailed way forward with timelines.

Other arts groups, including the Penticton and District Arts Council, the Shatford Centre and the Penticton Art Gallery are in favour of the arts society’s proposal for a symposium, each with different ideas they would like to see implemented as part of a performing arts centre.

The Downtown Penticton Association also offered a letter of support to the society’s vision for an arts centre and its plans for a symposium.

City staff is recommending council support holding the property until March 31, 2019, noting no other projects are currently being considered for the site.

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