Image Credit: CMH Architects

By James Peters

Two & Out

PETERS: Don’t wait too long to revive the performing arts centre proposal

Jul 10, 2020 | 11:27 AM

IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT GOT YOU THROUGH the worst depths of the pandemic isolation, you will probably land on some form of performing arts.

Maybe you leaned heavily on television or Netflix or another streaming media service.

Maybe you got way too into your music collection, creating an endless litany of playlists categorized alphabetically by bass player’s middle name.

Or maybe you found a podcast you couldn’t tear yourself away from.

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On the flip side, people in the throes of isolation have commonly lamented how they couldn’t come together as part of an audience anymore. Tours, festivals and other public events fell to the wayside.

Regardless, the pandemic has shown us how much we rely on the performing arts.

Both audiences and the artists themselves need the performing arts in equal measure.

Opponents of performing arts centre proposals in Kamloops have long complained that such a facility would be a luxury — a so-called ‘nice to have’.

Never mind the potential for furthering the economic opportunities for everyone in Kamloops, opponents argued a performing arts centre would only benefit the wealthy and cultured.

The argument ignored in large measure what we just discussed — that we are all performing arts audiences.

What was a foregone conclusion has now been formalized, with the performing arts centre referendum officially cancelled by the province.

Prior to this week, it had been postponed indefinitely, thanks to the disruption wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Locally, there was no appetite expressed by anyone on the pro side of the debate to go ahead with the vote.

Benefactor Ron Fawcett expressed to Kamloops This Week his hope that it won’t take too long to see the proposal come back, and he has the right idea.

In fact, it would be entirely reasonable to talk about a referendum next spring, if everything goes according to plan.

Kamloops, B.C. and Canada will hopefully be in the midst of a flourishing economic renewal by then, and adding a crown jewel facility to our downtown would set us up to emerge from the pandemic devastation stronger than ever.

We need a place for our performers to grow because we have shown we need performing arts — in good times, but especially in bad.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.