A rendering of the proposed arts venue.
Image Credit: kamloopscentreforthearts.ca
January 10, 2021 - 6:00 PM
The Kamloops Centre for the Arts Society and its president, Norm Daley, haven't given up on efforts to have a Performing Arts venue for the city, but they are patiently waiting for a sense of normalcy to return before returning the proposal to the city for a referendum.
The referendum to approve the proposed downtown venue was cancelled in April 2020 due to public health measures, but Daley says they are keeping their finger on the pulse of public support.
"We have a large group of members that we can keep in communication with" from public engagement campaigns last spring, he says. "We are largely in the same place we were eight months ago."
He hopes over the next few months they can reconvene efforts as COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness becomes more clear.
Daley believes the popularity of platforms like Netflix to provide arts and entertainment during COVID-19 lockdown measures shows that people want to be entertained and enjoy the arts. Once the restrictions loosen, they'll want to see artists perform live again.
"It's definitely a need with the aging infrastructure in our community. But the most important need we have now is the health of the community."
READ MORE: Kamloops society pushing for $70 million performing arts centre says plans are off 'indefinitely'
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