Arts facility may be closer than many think

Times Reporter

 

The Hope Bridges Society recently received good news for both themselves and the community. The society received a sizable grant, which will help cover the costs of doing a feasibility study in Strathmore regarding a new arts facility.

“That’s the exciting thing, we’ve been working on this for almost two years now with the Rural Community Adaptation Program, RCAP grant, and so we’re very excited,” said Marvin Hilton, chairperson with the society.

“This is a huge step, and a huge milestone for us to come that much closer to having a space, or a place, that Hope Bridges can call home.”

Hope Bridges had been doing research on grants when they knew they needed some funding to be able to do a feasibility study in the community. A feasibility study is needed to find out if there are any existing buildings within the community that can be used for an arts space or a performing arts centre. 

Hilton said the society received the full amount they could for the feasibility study, and had the proposal done up by RC Strategies who specialize in helping smaller communities throughout Alberta with performance art type venues. RC Strategies was brought in by Hope Bridges to assist by lending technical expertise, and help with the completion of the study.

Hilton said they were confident putting forth their grant application to the provincial government and their Rural Community Adaptation Grant Program with RC Strategies proposal. 

The study has to be completed by the end of 2011, and Hope Bridges has been working hard to keep things heading in the right direction. Though the study will be done this year, a facility won’t be up and running by the end of the year. 

“I would say, we’d like to see within two to three years or less, once the recommendations of the feasibility study come out and then we can actually seriously start applying for capital money to do any retro fits to the particular building we’re looking at,” said Hilton.

“This is an extremely exciting time for us this year, to get this feasibility study done. It’s just a huge step towards us moving things along, and it’s the result of about two years of hard work and determination on our board. I’m just very proud of our board and how they’ve focused on this.”

Hope Bridges Society is inviting members of the community to participate in a steering committee, and Hilton said they are looking for a broad base of people to sit on the subcommittee. 

To find out more information contact Marvin Hilton at 403-225-7308 or 403-901-8872.