Current Proposal
It is beneficial to provide three scenarios for the creation and operation of a new Arts Facility/Multi Use Facility in the town of Edson. They are broken down as follows:
- Scenario I – Partnerships as a Community Run Facility
- Scenario II – Partnerships as a Facility Attached to a School
- Scenario III – Partnerships with Private Business
Each scenario provides the opportunity to partner with different groups and organizations within the community. ACES has always encouraged partnerships to move towards the development and day-to-day operations of the facility. In addition, financial success of the theatre would be greatly assisted with the hiring of a dynamic theatre/staff manager and technical director.
Scenario I: Attached to a Multiplex Community-Run Facility
Scenario I, to which ACES believes is the most viable choice, is to build a performing arts centre within a new multiplex facility. The performing arts centre should include all the amenities recommended within this plan. The facility can be used within the following partnerships:
- Town of Edson for meetings (including Town Council meetings), forums, workshops, conferences.
- It may be possible to partner with the Town to include their new offices in the space.
- Yellowhead County for meetings (including County Council meetings), forums, workshops, and conferences.
- Grand Yellowhead Pubilc School Division (Ecole Pine Grove Middle School, Ecole Westhaven Elementary School, Mary Bergeron School, Parkland Composite High School) for their drama, art and music performances, one-act festivals, ceremonies, graduation, concerts, awards nights, conferences, and meetings.
- Living Waters Regional Catholic School Division (Holy Redeemer Catholic Jr/Sr High School, Vanier Community Catholic School) for their drama, art and music performances, one-act festivals, ceremonies, graduation, concerts, awards nights, conferences, and meetings.
- Yellowhead Kioina Christian School for their drama, art and music performances, ceremonies, graduation, concerts, awards nights, conferences, and meetings.
- Community Futures for meetings, workshops, events.
- Edson and District Chamber of Commerce for workshops, meetings, events, and conferences.
- Various performing arts groups in Edson and surrounding area including, but not limited to:
- Arts Alive Festival;
- Canada Day celebrations;
- Chautauqua Edson Arts Council for their annual concert series and other performances;
- Culture Days events;
- Double Feature Theatre for dramatic performances;
- Edson Recreational Dance for lessons, recitals and competitions;
- Essence Dance for lessons, recitals and competitions;
- Indigenous Peoples Day event;
- Local choir groups for concerts;
- Music educators for recitals, festivals and awards;
- Town of Edson Community Services programs and events
- Various visual arts groups in Edson and surrounding area including, but not limited to:
- Edson Craft Centre (Potters) for art shows;
- Edson Creative Arts Society for workshops, classes, and art shows;
- Edson photography club for workshops, classes, photography shows.
- Various Sports groups in Edson and surrounding area for AGM/Awards nights;
- International Women’s Day workshops/meetings;
- Edson Rotary Club for special performances, large meetings and conferences;
- Many of the services within the facility such as ushers, coat check and other front of house duties would be run by volunteers. This volunteer group would also be a partner.
Should it be possible to integrate the arts centre with a multiplex facility, the following partners, although not limited to, may be involved:
- Edson Figure Skating Club;
- Edson Minor Hockey;
- Edson Minor Soccer;
- Edson Orcas Swim Club;
- Edson Public Library.
Scenario II: Attached to a Local School
Scenario II would be to attach a new performing arts centre to one of the local schools. The performing arts centre should include all the amenities recommended within this plan.
This scenario also includes the partnership list from the first scenario and the theatre would still be a community-run facility. However, the most important partnerships in this scenario are those between the municipalities, who would develop and maintain the community use portion of the facility, and school division(s). Very careful long-term agreements would need to be drawn up between the two entities.
Which school to attach the theatre to would have to be negotiated between the municipalities and the school divisions.
Scenario III – Partnerships with Private Businesses
The third and final scenario is to build a new performing arts facility within the concept of a private partnership. The theatre would still be community-run facility.
This scenario can range from minimal partnerships such as sponsorships or commercial space for lease within the building, to the facility being built and operated by a private business with some involvement from the local municipalities. All of the partnerships from Scenario I would also apply to this scenario along with the partnerships listed below.
Whether the facility is municipally or privately run, operation costs could be reduced by including commercial space for lease within the building. These spaces would be best set up as “double-loaded” spaces with access from both the inside and the outside of the facility. Some examples of renters in these spaces could be, but not limited to:
- food kiosks and concessions,
- sports stores,
- art and art supply stores,
- music stores,
- music, art, yoga, and dance studios,
- restaurants and lounges with patio space,
- offices and/or micro offices,
- micro stores for local artisans or entrepreneurs.
In addition to this, the feasibility of a facility like this is greatly increased if as many interest groups as possible are included in a single space (ie. developing the entire multiplex facility from Scenario I within this concept), thus increasing traffic and users for businesses to benefit from. There is also the benefit of more multi-use spaces within the facility. It may also be easier to attract private investment with a true multi-use facility.
It would be beneficial to partner further with the Edson & District Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of Edson, Alberta Culture and Tourism, Alberta Touring Alliance, and other culture and tourism groups to encourage the potential for business to invest and set up shop, as well as to utilize the facility to its highest use. This scenario also increases the potential for overall growth in our community.
