Performing Arts Centre gets another push at AGM

Monday, February 18, 2019 ~ COLWOOD.

~ by Chelsea Kirkpatrick, West Shore Voice News

The Juan De Fuca Performing Arts Centre Society (JdFPACS) further encouraged and rallied support for their proposed Arts and Cultural Centre at their Annual General Meeting on Sunday, February 17.

Held at Colwood City Hall, about 25 people showed up for the 2 pm meeting to hear about the most important steps in making the performing arts centre building happen. They have run their Society with highly involved and dedicated volunteers who see the value in a centre that is able to bring the society together in a fun way.

The group has been creating plans for the space for a few years. Recently the City of Colwood has shown their support with a $2,000 grant to JDFPACS (subject to 2019 budget approval), to help during this formative stage. The group would be generally in charge of the content in the Centre once built.

Fundraising and making sure of a realistic business model that can be largely self-supporting is the key for JDFPACS. The group is looking for a two-acre site for the project. Colwood has said they may be able to help find a location. Otherwise, there is always potential land donation from someone in the community who also sees the benefit, it was said at the AGM.

After finding a site, then fundraising activities would ramp up.

In the proposed centre there would be a theatre with rehearsal space, gallery, and educational areas with classrooms “to nourish, teach and excite those in our community”, space for “art therapy” and another place to socialize and enrich the local community. All ages and groups welcome. There was talk of a library and potential businesses either below or within to help with the self-sustainability for the Centre.

“I was very happy with the AGM,” says organizer Judith Cullington. “We had an excellent turnout and lots of new faces and new memberships. We have a strong board including both new and returning members,” she told West Shore Voice News.

“There is clearly a sense of excitement that there is strong community support for this ‘home for arts and culture on the west shore’, and that while there is a great deal of work to achieve it, we have the determination to make it happen,” Cullington said.

There was energetic talk of Terry Williams, a local from Victoria specializing in architecture, green buildings and urban design, in wanting to be a supporter. Coast Collective Gallery has expressed excited interest in being in the Arts and Cultural Centre on the West Shore, it was stated at the meeting.

“This is a gloriously nebulously stage, everything is possible,” said Cullington. She sees this centre as having great potential for the community. She invites people to  share their ideas and support.

JdFPACS fundraising at this time includes the purchase Thrifty’s Smile Cards through which Thrifty Foods donates 5% to fund the group’s ongoing outreach.