Mayor’s task force wants to grow Kelowna's performing arts scene

Kelowna’s mayor put together a task force that came up with a list of ways to support the performing arts in the city. A group of city officials and people in the performing arts community spent the last year looking at ways to improve and grow the performing arts scene. The task force came up with four recommendations that will be presented to council on Monday, Dec. 9. The task force recommends preserving the Kelowna Community Theatre, renovating the theatre’s front of house, and building a new performing arts centre. The task force also wants to continue working and advising the city about more ways to improve opportunities for performing arts. Members of the task force include mayor Tom Dyas, Tourism Kelowna’s CEO Lisanne Ballantyne, Robert Fine from the Economic Development Commission, Kelowna Community Theatre and Ballet Kelowna volunteer Laura Doncom and others. READ MORE: iN PHOTOS: Retiring Kelowna ballerina has one last dance https://infotel.ca/newsitem/in-photos-retiring-kelowna-ballerina-has-one-last-dance/it106899 There were two surveys conducted by the task force, one for event organizers, and the other for the task force members to find out what the community wants. The task force found that there is a need for more performance spaces, and the Kelowna Community Theatre would be able to provide more for audiences with a few upgrades. The community is going to reach its limit for performances without more venues. Adding more venues would be good for the local economy and have a positive social impact. The location for the potential new performing arts centre is yet to be decided. The task force also has plans to explore other ways to grow the performing arts like charity events and new businesses. Kelowna city council will decide what to do with the recommendations on Monday. To contact a reporter for this story, email Jesse Tomas mailto:jtomas@infonews.ca  or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. Find our Journalism Ethics policy here. https://infotel.ca/newsitem/code-of-ethics/it106782 We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .