Lacombe Arts Centre asks county for funding boost

Lacombe Performing Arts Centre is hoping to build on its success, hopefully with a little more financial support from the county.

Executive director Rosanna Kerekes and arts centre board chair Grant Harder went before county council on Thursday to make a pitch for an additional $8,000 per year in funding for the next five years. The county provided about $14,000 this year and the arts centre hopes to see that increased to $22,000.

The arts centre was established in 2018 in a renovated former church. It is designed to provide accessible arts programming and entertainment to the community by offering space for dance, theatre, art lessons and performers and has a 150-seat theatre.

Harder told county council that arts centre backers believed there was a demand and the success of the venture has proven them right.

Among the upgrades was the conversion of a former daycare in the basement into rooms for teaching, rehearsals, studio and a “green room” where performers can get ready to go on stage or rest later.

“That has really made a huge difference in our growth as a centre,” he said of the latest renovations.

As is its usual procedure, council did not make a decision following the presentation and funding request. Administration will bring back a report and recommendations in a future council meeting.