After the successful completion of the Christina Living Arts Centre, the Christina Lake Arts and Artisans Society (CLAAS) is looking to Phase 2 of the project.
Phase 2 would see a second building located behind the current centre.
The building would become a studio centre with classrooms for local artisans to teach lessons and also function as an outside amphitheatre for summer music and performances.
Bob Dupee, president of the CLAAS, explained the society started to publicize the next stage at the recent Chocolate and Champagne fundraiser.
“We did our public viewing of our plans and an explanation to give people an idea of the scope of the project and what we’re looking at,” he said. “We’re looking at other funding to be able to continue developing the whole thing as far as getting the plans fleshed out a bit more so we can get the costs.”
CLAAS is currently looking into possible grants, such as the Cultural Spaces Grant, as well as local sponsors.
“Once we’re a little bit closer, we can work on a feasibility study and there should be help through grants to be able to do something like that,” he said. “There’s a lot of steps in the process and it’s just a matter of putting one foot in front of the other.”
Dupee noted the group is realistically looking at a couple of years before construction starts.
“There’s a lot of groundwork to be done first before we can move forward in a positive way,” he added. “We do know that money is tight in all sectors these days but there is some really good opportunity here for locals to take some initiatives as far as donations go.”
Substantial donors could possibly have a studio named after themselves or a loved one in return for a substantial tax recipe, he added.
The Christina Living Arts Centre is considered a green building. It has new technology that incorporates geothermal heating and cooling, and the use of a Solar Aquatics System for wastewater processing.
For more information, visit www.kettleriverarts.com.
