By Tom Mark

Arts Council Sees Cultural Facility Good for GDP & Creativity

Jun 22, 2018 | 7:18 AM

The job of selling a multi-purpose cultural facility in Vernon to the public is the next order of business now that a referendum is set for the October election.

The public will be asked to approve borrowing 25 million dollars towards the 40 million dollar cost.

Amanda Shatzko, the President of the Arts Council of the North Okanagan, says it will be a great benefit.

“Spaces that have an opportunity for youth in our community to learn about important skills for our future such as creativity and also learning the rich history of our past, I think it’s a great site to have to add to our culture.”

The borrowing would be time to coincide with millions coming off the books for the money needed to build Kal Tire Place and the Performing Arts Centre and Amanda says we wouldn’t really see much difference to taxes.

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Amanda hopes people realize the impact arts and cultural have on the economy.

“If you take a look at it in Stats Canada. the cultural sector is actually two times natural resources in GDP. It’s also two times accommodation and food in GDP and it’s ten times in sports and we all know we lover our hockey.”

She says it attracts jobs and boosts tourism and adds the facility will be more than just a place for the art gallery and museum, it will be a place for learning.

” We don’t know where we’re going into the future of things and I think having a space that will start to teach creative and critical thinking and innovation and stuff like that, I think will be a great benefit and I think that’s just what people need to listen and realize and start to learn about.”

A site for the facility hasn’t been finalized, but the city wants it where the current parking lot is in the 2900 block between 31st and 32nd Avenue.

by Tom Mark