While an arts and culture centre may seem like it’s fallen off the grid to many, according to the town, the conversation will begin in 2015.
“In 2015, it’s in the budget to start having the conversation,” said Suzanne Gaida, senior manager of community services for the town.
“The feasibility study took place in 2011 and it was originally marked for 2018.”
A revised Ten-Year Financial Strategy includes a formerly slated 2018 date for an arts and cultural centre now left ‘to be determined’. Those connected to the arts and culture communities in Cochrane can anticipate public engagement sessions to take place next year — beginning with identifying what would work best in Cochrane.
“It is this council’s priority this term to determined what is needed,” said Gaida, adding that the town will seek public input to determine whether a performance venue or a ‘community cultural hub’ (a multi-use facility) would best suit Cochrane.
Once the ball gets rolling, the next step would be site selection; the 2011 feasibility study identified several sites, narrowing it down to the ‘Riverfront Site’ (by the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre) and the ‘Downtown Site’ (the former town hall site).
The town would use $3M from the Community Revitalization Levy to go toward the project if a downtown location is selected (in and around the Quarry site).
The project was formerly tagged at $22M, with $7.4M to come from the town and the remainder through fundraising and grants.
The feasibility study identified over 500 potential user groups for an arts and culture facility and estimated the cost to build the facility to run $22-$25M.
