Renovations to the large meeting room in the new Central Cariboo Arts Centre should be completed in about a week, says project co-ordinator Sheila Wyse.
Wyse is secretary for the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society, which is managing the new arts centre located in the City’s old fire hall next to City Hall on Fourth Avenue.
In December the CRD Central Cariboo/City of Williams Lake Joint Committee provided $10,600 for the society to finish renovating the upstairs of the arts centre. There weren’t enough funds available last year to complete all of the renovations needed to turn the fire hall into a working arts centre so the upper floor was left unfinished.
Wyse says she got three quotes from local businesses for each of the four jobs that needed doing to renovate the upstairs: replacing floors in the large meeting/workshop room, kitchen, and landing; painting the walls and ceilings; replacing a damaged door and window; and purchasing slightly open weave, light filtering blinds for the wall of windows on the east side of the room.
The old floor was a mix of uneven and warn linoleum and carpet which was removed and replaced with heavy-duty vinyl composite tiles and then sealed. By using tiles Wyse says they can easily replace parts of the floor that may become damaged through use.
She says they have kept to warm white neutral tones with beige and brown flecks for the floor, and a warm white paint for walls and ceilings in order to highlight a beautiful original cedar wall which they plan to clean, oil and keep.
With one wall of east facing windows, the room provides a bright place for art workshops, book readings and other arts and culture events, and community activities. While the emphasis will be on providing working and meeting space for arts and culture groups on a rental basis, she says other uses will also be considered by the society.
She says the room is about 1,300 square feet and will comfortably fit about 50 people depending on the activity.
Society president Graham Kelsey says the society has a budget of $20,000 a year to manage the arts centre, which is being run on a fee for use basis.
During the original renovations done last summer the main floor of the arts centre was divided into three working spaces which are now rented to the Cariboo Art Society, Cariboo Potters Guild and the Williams Lake Spinners and Weavers.
He says some office space in the basement may also become available for rent. “We have a sliding scale for renting the great room upstairs,” Kelsey says. “Arrangements for booking will be determined shortly.”