Canmore politicians are moving forward to establish a committee to oversee establishing an arts development centre.
The terms of reference for the advisory committee was passed by council earlier this month with a number of amendments, including ones to ensure consultation plays an important role.
Councillor Joanna McCallum amended the terms of reference to make it a responsibility of the committee to provide a detailed reporting of community engagement and stakeholder interactions.
“I hope it is a thorough process and council has access to an engagement date,” McCallum said.
Coun. John Borrowman said consultation should occur throughout the entire process and not just at the beginning.
Manager of community enrichment Brenda Caston said the task force that recommended going forward with an arts centre wants the facility to be welcoming, inspiring, inclusive and sustainable.
“The arts centre would be a community hub, it would build community and be a place to connect people through the arts,” Caston said.
The advisory committee, she said, will develop operational and capital plan options along with consultation process.
It will also make recommendations on how to develop the non-profit group with an independent volunteer arts board to manage the facility.
The operating and capital plans are expected by July so council can consider them for the 2013 budget process.
The Canmore Arts Centre Advisory Committee (CACAC) will be comprised of two councillors and up to seven members of the community.
But the establishment of an arts centre, said Mayor Ron Casey, is not a done deal without the reports and information the committee will deliver.
“I do not want to bring a whole bunch of people into this with an expectation this will be approved,” he said. “Understanding what that structure and model might look like is a different thing altogether.”
