Surrey City Council unanimously voted Monday to use a two-phased expansion plan to boost arts and culture space on the Semiahmoo Peninsula.
The Build Surrey Program and the new Culture Plan will help establish the city’s role as a leader in the arts community, Mayor Dianne Watts said in a news release.
“We want to further establish Surrey as a cultural hub in the region, and our community partners are helping us shape and implement that vision,” Watts said.
Community art groups in South Surrey unanimously supported the concept of a phased approach, according to the city.
The first phase will kick off in 2012 with a 3,500- to 4,000-square-foot expansion to the South Surrey Recreation Centre, which could accommodate an office for the Semiahmoo Arts Society, a pottery studio and a visual arts studio.
To help finance the expansion, the South Surrey White Rock Arts Society has raised and will be donating $250,000 in exchange for free facility use for monthly meetings and annual art sales.
The new arts centre – which will be located on 152 Street – will be the second phase of the arts and culture expansion. The creation of the centre is expected to take between three to five years.
Once completed, the facility will be home to a performing arts and visual arts space, as well as instructional and studio areas.
The Culture Plan also includes a recommendation to complete the second phase of the Surrey Museum, which includes 3,500 sq. ft in additional space for collections storage, an exhibition preparation workshop and a temporary exhibition gallery.
