Northern Lights Public Schools' (NLPS) plan to build a new performing arts centre has hit a major roadblock, after a closed-door meeting by the Bonnyville Fine Arts Society.
Northern Lights Public Schools' (NLPS) plan to build a new performing arts centre has hit a major roadblock, after a closed-door meeting by the Bonnyville Fine Arts Society.
Originally, the Fine Arts Society had partnered with NLPS to include a new theatre in the modernization of Bonnyville Centralized High School (BCHS).
Recent talks between fine arts representatives and the Town of Bonnyville has led the organization to reconsider partnering with NLPS. Instead, they've made occupying the possible expansion space at the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre their top priority.
"Fine arts have said they would prefer the C2 option," detailed Bonnyville Mayor Gene Sobolewski. "The need is multi, there are a lot of different angles and components that need to be considered with different uses and interference with school. We need to look at this issue holistically, not from a board perspective but a community perspective, especially if public money is going to be used."
The possibility of a multi-use arts centre operating out of the Centennial Centre arose from their most recent strategic planning meeting. The C2 board intends to survey the community on how they would like to see the space used.
"This issue has come front and centre. It's a problem for the public, and it's a problem for the Fine Arts Society, who happen to be one group that would utilize the building. We need to look at what the user's want, so they'll continue going to the facility," explained Sobolewski.
He added, the Fine Arts Society hasn't ruled out the idea of being a part of the BCHS modernization.
As a result, NLPS will explore alternative options for the space they had allocated for a new performing arts centre.
"At this point, we're no longer partnering with the Fine Arts Society. They said their second choice would be NLPS, but because they're going with the town we have to look at something else for that space," stated NLPS secretary treasurer Paula Elock.
The division could still move ahead with a new theatre, but will consider multiple different uses. They've scheduled a meeting with the province to get their perspective on the situation.
If NLPS decides against a theatre, the Fine Arts Society could be without a home should the C2 expansion fail to materialize.
"We're disappointed to say the least. We're going to have to find something to do with that space," said Elock. "I have notified the Fine Arts Society, should they choose the town's C2 option, we don't know if our space will be available later. If we do something else with the space, we can't undo that decision."
Much of the division's frustration can be attributed to the timing of the decision by the Fine Arts Society. According to Elock, if NLPS knew other options were on the table, they may have taken a different approach.
With BCHS set to break ground this year, NLPS is scrambling to come up with a solution.
"From our perspective, we included the Fine Arts Society in our BCHS modernization request to be respectful of them. For them to pull out in this stage of the planning is tough. If we had known they were going to look at other options, we might not have made the same decision," expressed Elock.
The Bonnyville Fine Arts Society declined to comment at this time.
