Keyano College displays concept for new art gallery

Posted On Tuesday November 26, 2019

Conceptual drawings of a proposed Art Gallery for the community are on display this week in the Keyano Theatre.

The drawings, prepared as part of a detailed business plan for the new gallery, support the College’s request to the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Council to approve $16.8 million for further design and construction.

This Wednesday, November 27, Keyano President and CEO Trent Keough will be joined by College and community arts supporters to present its case to Council. Through a public partnership to support College programming and develop cultural spaces within the municipality, the project would create an international art gallery, develop a dedicated ceramics studio, and convert a former gymnasium into flexible studio spaces.

“Keyano College sees this as an opportunity to work with the RMWB to grow, sustain, and enliven the arts in Wood Buffalo,” said Dr. Keough. “This will positively impact arts and culture in the region, and attract local and international artists.”

The College proposal asks the RMWB to help fund the centre’s, as well as a portion of the Keyano Theatre’s annual operations.

With recent cuts to its budget totaling $4-million, and more cuts coming for the next three years, the College is challenged to continue funding the Theatre, a cultural centerpiece that has been a part of the community and the college for more than 40 years.

“If it is to survive as a much loved community resource, we’ll have to find other means,” noted Dr. Keough. “Without any performance arts programming and over $2-million in operational costs annually, we have to rethink our priorities.”

As part of its commitment, Keyano College would develop new Arts programming, in conjunction with the RMWB’s partnership and the gallery’s completion.

College officials note the project directly supports the municipality’s 2018-2021 Strategic Plan, the Wood Buffalo Culture Plan, as well as the Wood Buffalo Social Sustainability Plan.

 

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Note to Editors:

Keyano College 2019-2020 budget impacts:

  • Campus Alberta Grant -2.2% ($743,557)
  • Apprenticeship Training -43.5% ($550,022)
  • Infrastructure Maintenance Program -100% ($2,799,605) – suspended for one year
  • Post-Secondary Mental Health +4.3% $10,000

Total grant reduction: 10.5% ($4,083,184)