The Summerland Arts Centre will not be left homeless during the construction of a new library.
Mayor Janice Perrino said the municipality will help the Summerland Arts Council with its temporary and long-term accommodation needs.
In late February, the municipality announced that the existing gallery and the adjacent building on Main Street will be demolished later this year to allow for the construction of a new and larger library.
The gallery will be moved to the former Summerland Pharmacy location on Main Street until a new permanent gallery location can be found.
“We have earmarked $25,000 to help them get into a new building,” Perrino said.
The library building, on Wharton Street, has been suggested as the site of the new Arts Centre.
“Recognizing the importance of the Art Gallery to our community, council budgeted $25,000 to assist the art gallery in paying rent in a new location and to assist in relocation costs,” a letter from the municipality to the Summerland Arts Council read.
While construction of the new library is expected to be completed in 2015, Perrino said council will continue to assist the arts council if the project takes longer than expected.
“We’re committed to making it work for them,” she said, “but we need a new library.”