Why Doesn’t Lethbridge have a Performing Arts Centre? A Vision for a Cultural Future (Part 2 Q&A)

The City of Lethbridge Capital Improvement Program, or CIP, is a plan that identifies required capital projects and provides a planning schedule and financing plan. The City of Lethbridge is currently in the process of planning for its next CIP (2018-2027) and has identified there is only $5.5 million available for community projects. The Performing Arts Centre Advocacy Group (PACAG) is working to ensure the Performing Arts Centre remains on the next CIP. Since Lethbridge’s beginnings there has been a need to build a suitable performance venue for both performers and audiences alike. The 488-seat Genevieve E. Yates Memorial Centre, while not a theatre but an auditorium, was built in 1966 when the population was 37,000. It is the only major community performance venue in Lethbridge. The Sterndale Bennett Theatre is a 180-seat black box theatre. The University of Lethbridge has two theatres and a recital hall which are used primarily for student productions. Lethbridge currently has less than 1000 traditional theatre seats for a populations nearing 100,000. We are slated to lose half of those seats once the Yates closes for renovations. A Performing Arts Centre will increase the number of seats available for events, providing access to existing community groups and touring acts to book in Lethbridge. Lethbridge would be viewed as a regional hub for cultural experiences, attracting visitors from southeast British Columbia, northern Montana and southwestern Saskatchewan. And, as the community continues to grow, this project would provide community space to a myriad of events. The speaker will discuss the rich history of performing arts in Lethbridge, the vibrancy of our arts community, future growth and economic benefits a Performing Arts Centre would bring to Lethbridge. Speaker: Dawn Leite Dawn Leite is a member of the PACAG and the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director at the Allied Arts Council. Dawn has worked in arts administration in Lethbridge for nearly 15 years, and is an active and passionate member of the performing arts community. Dawn is committed to the development of our community, being a member of the Rotary Club of Lethbridge, Heart of Our City, and Vice-President of the newly established Lethbridge & District Music & Speech Arts Festival Society. She is also a member of the Lethbridge Community Band Society. Moderator: Christina Cuthbertson Date: Thursday, January 19, 2017 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $12.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea)