At the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts on Thursday, Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk announced plans to bring a new performing arts centre to the city.
“Imagine a multi-use facility specifically built to allow for collaboration, training and performances, which could be enjoyed by small and large crowds alike,” Panciuk said in a speech.
“Imagine a place where we could be inspired to have a greater appreciation of the arts and those among us with artistic skills, and imagine how this would attract even more artists that come to Belleville to perform, to move and live here and teach more of us about their passion and craft.”
Speaking to media after the speech, Panciuk said the idea was first pitched with Quinte Arts Council director Janet Jarrell for a new facility in 2020 in a conversation with Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith.
The idea was then put on hold once the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.
“I see now an opportunity for us to have economic advantages because we have a facility like this. And that’s when it sort of came I think early in the spring (of 2022).” Panciuk said.
“There’s a passionate group of people in the community that wants to be able to experience more of what the arts and culture and entertainment sector has and I think this facility is now feasible for us.”
While the plan remains in the preliminary stages and awaits approval on a feasibility study, Panciuk says the model would be comparable to a smaller version of the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts in Kingston.
“That was a $72 million project that opened in 2014. I don’t think we’re talking about a $72 million facility. But I would say in that $35 to $40 million range is something that we can look to,” Panciuk told media members.
Panciuk says that MPP Todd Smith has committed to supporting the feasibility study once funding becomes available.
While Panciuk did not address if the plan was contingent on him being reelected in the upcoming municipal election, Quinte Arts Centre director Janet Jarrell says the the plan “is a go.”
