Sechelt council will discuss the development of a cultural complex during its 2011 budget talks, following a motion that passed at its Dec. 15 meeting.
At its most ambitious, the cultural complex project would create a joint facility in Sechelt to house a new performance hall and rehearsal space, an expanded Sechelt Public Library, a museum and archives and a public art gallery.
Council heard a presentation of the cultural complex task force report Dec. 7, detailing the many options and variations in the plan, and the possibility of partnering with School District No. 46 to build the facility as part of a Neighbourhood Learning Centre at the Sechelt Elem-entary School site.
A public open house on the project is being planned for later this month.
Coun. Fred Taylor made the motion to discuss the project during budget talks, commenting that he would be interested in discussing creating a cultural complex reserve fund.
"As we move on through budget discussions I think it might be appropriate to talk about what is council's commitment to this vision, and are we willing to create a reserve and put any money towards that vision," he said.
Coun. Ann Kershaw, who chairs the task force, spoke in favour of the motion.
"This is a $50 million dream and we're not going to have $50 million any time soon. The task force members certainly realize that it will take a lot of work and buy-in from the community over a lot of years - but you're right: we have to start somewhere, because this is for future generations," she said.
Council also passed a second motion, proposed by Coun. Keith Thirkell, to refer the discussion of Sechelt's art acquisition reserve fund to 2011 budget talks.
TEDxSechelt
The Sunshine Coast Art Council's Steve Wright made a delegation to council to present the arts council's plan to host an event called TEDxSechelt next October and ask for financial support.
TEDx events are locally-organized events based on the popular TED.com website, which features video clips of key experts and thinkers, and focuses on the concept of "Ideas Worth Spreading."
Wright said the event will take place at Chatelech Secondary School, and its theme will be "The Nature of Creativity." It will bring together artists, educators and cultural programmers and feature First Nations drumming, interactive demonstrations of forward thinking music software, live music, art organizations, information on mountain bike trail building and cutting edge animation, plus three TED talks. The event will be offered for free but limited to 100 participants who will have to apply for spots. It will also be filmed and broadcast on the TED website so as to reach a far wider audience. The organizers are still looking for $6,000 in sponsorship.
Arts Festival
Council will transfer production of the Sechelt Festival of the Arts to an individual or a non-profit organization, with District of Sechelt financial support for the festival allocated through the grant-in-aid budget, according to a resolution released from in camera. A second resolution referred discussion of future funding of Sechelt's Festival of the Arts to 2011 budget discussions.
