ColwoodB次元官网网址檚 council supports the creation of an arts centre to help turn the city into a B次元官网网址渞enaissance community,B次元官网网址� Mayor Rob Martin said.

B次元官网网址淐ouncil is saying we understand that our community continues to grow and not only has recreational needs but arts needs,B次元官网网址� Martin said. B次元官网网址淲e think this would be a very good fit B次元官网网址� council is very supportive of a new arts centre.B次元官网网址�

Colwood tentatively earmarked a $2,000 grant to the Juan de Fuca Arts Centre Society B次元官网网址� the group lobbying for an arts centre on the West Shore.

The Juan de Fuca Arts Centre Society has been working on plans to build an arts facility on the West Shore over the past few years. The centre would have a performance hall, rehearsal space, gallery and educational spaces so both professional and amateur community members could make use of it.

The societyB次元官网网址檚 president, Judith Cullington, said that while the centre may not make a lot of profit, the society is dedicated to making the facility largely self-supporting, rather than relying on municipal tax dollars.

Cullington said in order to do so, finding key partners and fundraising for the centre are necessary.

B次元官网网址淥ur main goals are fundraising and making sure itB次元官网网址檚 a realistic business model that can be largely self-supporting,B次元官网网址� Cullington said.

Martin said council will hopefully be able to support the society in non-financial ways.

B次元官网网址淚 think thereB次元官网网址檚 a role for advocacy,B次元官网网址� Martin said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not just saying weB次元官网网址檙e supportive of it but also messaging out to the general population and specific funders that this is what we need in the West Shore.B次元官网网址�

Martin said heB次元官网网址檚 more than happy to write letters and talk to funders on behalf of the City of Colwood.

The City released a draft strategic plan earlier in January that highlighted a focus on developing jobs, culture and entertainment in Colwood.

One of the CityB次元官网网址檚 goals in the draft plan is listed as B次元官网网址渃reating special placesB次元官网网址� and one of the priorities under that goal is exploring the potential for an arts theatre or centre in Colwood.

B次元官网网址淟ong ago we used to talk about creating sort of a renaissance community,B次元官网网址� Martin said. B次元官网网址淲hat that means is youB次元官网网址檙e well-rounded so that you have your recreation, your libraries, your social services. Arts is an essential part of that.B次元官网网址�

The next step for the Juan de Fuca Arts Centre Society is to find a two-acre site where the facility can be built. Martin said council could potentially help the society find that site.

B次元官网网址淚 think this council has recognized that as we continue to build the community, [the renaissance community] has to be essential to our long term viability, success and happiness of our residents,B次元官网网址� Martin said.