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Keyano College unveils concept art for art gallery

Last Updated Nov 26, 2019 at 12:29 pm MDT

IMAGE. Concept art for the proposed Keyano Art Gallery is on display the week of Nov. 25, 2019, at Keyano Theatre. Supplied by Keyano College.

Art and culture in Wood Buffalo may take on a brand new look.

Concept art of a proposed Art Gallery the community can enjoy is on display this week at the Keyano Theatre.

The drawings are part of a detailed business plan Keyano College will present to RMWB Council on Nov. 27, 2019.

The college is hopeful Council will approve their request for $16.8-million for further design and construction.

Keyano President and CEO Dr Trent Keough said supporters of the arts and the school will join them as they make their case.

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

Cultural centrepiece

The project would design an international art gallery, craft a dedicated ceramics studio, and remodel Keyano’s former gymnasium into art studio spaces.

Keyano said this would support College programming and develop cultural spaces in Wood Buffalo.

The proposal asks the Municipality to help fund the gallery and also a portion of Keyano Theatre’s annual operations.

Funding the Theatre is a challenge as the college deals with recent budget cuts totalling four million dollars with more expected over the next three years.

However, Keough said the Theatre served as a cultural centrepiece for the college and community for at least 40 years.

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

Along with their partnership with the RMWB, Keyano College would develop new programming for the Arts.

The project would support the 2018-2021 Strategic Plan, the Wood Buffalo Culture Plan, and the Wood Buffalo Social Sustainability Plan.