The Kimberley Arts Council Centre 64 is in the midst of a fundraising campaign to provide a lift for theatre access, and so far, says Carol Fergus of the Arts Council, the Give Us A Lift campaign it is going well.
“We’re at $13,000 and we want to raise $25,000 locally,” she said.
The full budget for the project is $175,000 and the Arts Council is eyeing a number of grants for the rest of the funds.
Fergus says that it was important to set an achievable local goal, as the Arts Council recognized that there were several big fundraising initiatives going on at the same time, including the new Spray Park and the Military Ames effort to build the new veterans park.
Give Us A Lift finally addresses the issue of access to the theatre at Centre 64. The theatre is only accessed by doors on the second floor of the building, which means many people, such as seniors and those with disabilities, cannot get to it.
“The theatre is very busy,” Fergus said. “And anyone with mobility issues knows how much this is needed.
“We are halfway there with local funding now, which is great.”
Local sponsors so far include the Mark Creek Lions, the Off Centre Players, Have Camera Will Travel, Home Grown, the Kimberley Community Choir, the Red Hat Society, the Kimberley Garden Club, the Artists Gathering, and Centre 64 itself, which donated part of its Lilith Affair donation.
“It’s really great to see the community coming forward,” she saId.
The project includes a lift to the theatre level — not an elevator, which is hugely expensive — but a platform lift.
“It’s very nice, well finished,” Fergus said.
The plans are to apply to the Canada Cultural Spaces fund, the Enabling Access fund and the Seniors New Horizons fund. Those grant applications are being worked on now.
Fundraising plans for the summer include a free JulyFest concert outdoors at Centre 64 — complete with beer garden — a long table dinner on August 26 at Cominco Gardens and a photography presentation in the fall.