Members of the Summerland Community Arts Council are concerned about the long-term future of their gift shop and gallery.
For the past seven months, the gallery and gift shop have been in a retail building on Main Street, but members of the arts council are concerned with the long-term future of this location.
Earlier, for 16 years, the gallery was in the former municipal building on Main Street, but the building has been demolished as the property is the site of Summerland’s new library branch.
Speaking to municipal council, David Finnis, president of the arts council, said a permanent location is necessary.
“We’d like to have a permanent home,” he said. “We feel the community will lose if there isn’t a gallery.”
At present the municipality has approved funding for the arts council to continue renting its present Main Street location until the end of 2015.
Finnis is encouraged that members of municipal council have an interest in having the arts centre remain at its present location or somewhere along Main Street.
Karan Bowyer, office manager for the arts centre, echoes the same concerns.
“It’s hard to act when we don’t know how long we will be here,” she said.
Almost a year ago, in late February, 2014, the former municipal building location was selected as the site for the new library branch.
In late spring, the arts council moved into a former retail building, also on Main Street.
The new location has worked well for the gift gallery, but not for exhibits.
The space is noisy, smaller than the former gallery space and lacking the necessary lighting.
“The art gallery space has changed considerably,” Finnis said.
Over the past week, the arts council has worked to install track lighting for its shows. The cost of this lighting is roughly $3,000, Finnis said. This money came from a gaming grant to improve the facility
Painting the concrete floor at the rear of the building is expected to cost another $3,000, he said,
Earlier improvements to the building have included painting, constructing two offices and adding two sinks. Shelves for storage were constructed in the back room and emergency lighting was added.
Mayor Peter Waterman said he would like to keep the arts council on Main Street.
“One of council’s objectives is to be supportive of the arts in Summerland,” he said. “Id’ like to see them in a stable situation.”
Keeping the gallery and arts centre on Main Street would also help to strengthen the downtown area.
“We’ve got such a strong, diverse arts community,” he said. “It can be very good for Main Street.”