NEWS

After the original study (below) was presented to the City in the spring of 2010, City Council requested the Performing Arts Theatre Steering committee to do a review of the study and its recommendations, as well as to come up with some funding ideas.  Richard Schick, of Schick Shiner Associates who undertook the Performing Arts Theatre Study Review over the spring/summer of 2011, presented on Monday October 20, 2011 along with the Performing Arts Theatre Steering Committee. For a summary of what was presented, click here.

The Performing Arts Centre Steering Committee (with the assistance of consulting team Ferrari Westwood Babits Architects/Theatre Projects Consultants (TPC)/Webb Management Services, Inc./Threshold Acoustics LLC) have completed the following:

• A needs assessment
• A functional program
• A preliminary concept design
• Capital cost estimations
• A business plan for facility operations

The consultant's report was approved in principle and filed for further reference by the City of Lethbridge on May 3, 2010.  The Steering committee will report back to the City of Lethbridge by September, 2011 with funding options, operation and governance of the facility.

BACKGROUND:

In the spring of 2009, the City of Lethbridge assembled a Performing Arts Centre Steering Committee (comprised of community volunteers) to oversee a needs assessment and master planning process for a possible Performing Arts Centre.

The Performing Arts Centre Steering Committee selected the local firm of Ferrari Westwood Babits Architects (FWBA). FWBA has assembled a consulting team with an international reputation comprised of Theatre Projects Consultants (TPC), Webb Management Services, Inc. and Threshold Acoustics LLC. FWBA has managed the planning process, and together the team has created a Schematic Design.

In the month of November 2009, the team met and interviewed over 100 individuals, which included a cross-section of representatives of regional arts and culture organizations, facility managers, educators, funders, local business owners, and City leadership/personnel. During this time they also toured existing facilities, researched other venues located within the local market, and studied the existing arts audiences and population trends. The analysis of this information will be the basis of the needs assessment.