A "living room for the community." That's how the Arts Facility Advisory Committee and its consultants, Urban Arts Architecture, sees its proposal for a civic arts centre on the 1600-block of Bellevue Avenue.
That's a brilliant concept. It conjures a building that is alive, as well as a community actively utilizing it. What could be better in terms of drawing foot traffic to the Ambleside area and its beleaguered businesses?
District of West Vancouver council unanimously endorsed the concept two weeks ago, and the community should be thrilled that it finally did - Jack Shadbolt asked for the same thing in 1963.
The centre will house the West Vancouver Museum and the Ferry Building Gallery along with additional space for arts programs currently taking place in district-owned houses along Argyle Avenue.
It should be noted that if the proposed arts centre does not proceed, there will be much more pressure to adapt or consolidate those little houses into something larger - something that many West Vancouver residents have already said they do not want.
The identified site is owned by the district and that is intended to be the municipal contribution. Much of the building's operation will be managed by the personnel involved in existing programs incorporated into the building. So the big challenge becomes the raising of the approximately $25 million needed to finance the capital costs of the centre.
What a wonderful opportunity for community patrons to step forward in this, its centennial year.
