Big plans for a performing arts centre in Kamloops were unveiled at city council today for the first time.

Local businessman and philanthropist Ron Fawcett pitched designs for a performing arts building in the city’s downtown, a project currently expected to cost more than $70 million dollars.

The facility would include three theatres and the main one would seat 1,200 people, and would become the home of several performing arts groups including the Western Canada Theatre.

Including the Annex, the proposed Centre in the 300 block of St Paul St will be over 103,000 square feet and would include:

• 1200 seat theatre with fly tower, full catwalk, orchestral shell, orchestral pit and state-of-the-art lighting with an option to use the lower portion of the theatre to seat 800
• 450 seat theatre with fly tower, catwalk, and state-of-the-art lightning
• 75 to 100 seat black box theatre (which would serve as the new Pavillion theatre)
• Ticket office
• Café and outdoor café area
• 70 underground parking spaces
• Full operational areas for Western Canada Theatre including costume areas, set construction, etc
• Full operational areas for the Kamloops Symphony and their Music School.
• New Storage space for the Kamloops Art Gallery
• Rehearsal halls
• Meeting areas

Fawcett couldn’t estimate at this point what the centre would cost taxpayers, but says he and his wife Rae would donate $8-10 million dollars which includes donating land for part of the centre.

As for covering the rest of the bill.

“I have looked at the other plan and we are certainly going to be way less. But it comes down to operating costs too. I am a big taxpayer in this town but I don’t have the ability to figure that out. That has to be the city. We have given and vision and we are happy to have done that but they have the big job to do, which is figuring out whether it is the right thing for the taxpayers of this community.”

Fawcett says if built the facility would be a huge boon for downtown Kamloops.

“This project will be a major part of the planned downtown revitalization. It will be a catalyst for new buildings in the downtown core. It is the right location. It will be a centre of excellence and a jewel for our city attracting artists, performers, and speakers potentially drawing millions of tourism dollars and creating additional good paying jobs.”

In front of a packed gallery, Kamloops council voted unanimously to add the performing arts centre to the city’s strategic plan going forward.