Expert panel offering personal stories

Experts with inspiring backgrounds are taking the stage in Okotoks to offer insight on a hot topic in the arts community. Creative Okotoks, an economic-focused arts group that connects the community through speaking events, have three southern Alberta experts sharing their experiences on what it takes to get shovels in the ground for a local art facility in Let’s Talk: Performing Arts Centre in Okotoks at the Elks Hall Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. The cost to attend the event is $5. “It’s a popular topic,” said Cheryl Taylor, event organizer and co-owner of Lineham House Galleries. “We’ve been talking about the need for a new performing arts centre for years within the community.” Taylor said Let’s Talk is an opportunity to get the community together for a fun, informative and inspiring evening. “Come out and hear some experts in this area talk about some of their experiences and let’s put our heads together about where we go from here,” she said. Among the experts are storyteller Ken Lima-Coelho, vice-president of marketing and communications for YMCA Calgary. “Ken has been pivotal in getting the northeast YMCA off the ground,” said Taylor. “He also happens to be an entertainer and very well spoken. He came with very good recommendations from the Calgary arts community.” Arts champion Patti Pon, Calgary Arts Development president and CEO, comes with a wealth of expertise in facilities and arts organizations, said Taylor. “It’s part of her role in Calgary Arts Development to also be networking with communities outside the city,” she said. Jeremy Elbourne, executive director for ARTSplace Canmore, has worked in the non-profit art sector his entire career and is in charge of seeing art facilities open, said Taylor. “I feel very fortunate that they’re taking time out of their busy schedules to come to our community and help us organize our thinking around how we might best approach this whole process,” she said. “We’re building on the momentum we’ve had with Alberta Culture Days and some of the things that many of the artists and galleries have been involved with.” Taylor said Okotoks falls considerably short of what many other communities have for performing arts centres. “Our facilities are not purpose built for anything other than music,” she said. “You don’t have the green-rooms so there’s very little ability to put drama productions on and certainly not dance. If you don’t have the facilities in place you’re very limited as to what you can do. You don’t attract a lot in terms of drama, dance or larger music acts when all you have is religious institutions and the RPAC (Rotary Performing Arts Centre), and the community centre is built like a community hall.” Community theatre group, Dewdney Players, is making do with the space at the RPAC, said Ed Sands, a member and town councillor. “The change rooms, make up room, that kind of thing are less than ideal as there’s no backstage,” he said. “In terms of change rooms we section off the basement where our costumes are and if you’re modest you sneak into the bathroom and change. Our makeup room is basically the kitchen.” Another challenge is the theatre group has sold out some performances due to the limited seating, yet Sands said there are other times when there’s only 15 in the audience like at its one-act plays. On the other hand, Sands said the facility has gone a long way to meet the technical needs of their productions in recent years. “They’ve got LED lights, which are as good or better than other theatres in Calgary, and the sound system is partly donated by Dewdney and part of it was funded through the Town,” he said. For John Fraser, Okotoks’ performing arts facilities are lacking when it comes to large concerts. Fraser helps organize the annual Okotoks Christmas concert each fall. “We’ve moved a number of times now, mostly because we outgrew each facility,” he said. “We started out in the performing arts centre and ever since then we’ve been in one of the churches. They really have a great set up but they’re not a public facility.” Fraser said the Foothills Centennial Centre has sufficient space, but there are some issues like having to set up equipment for every performance. “Also, there are often other things going on in the building at the same time and the divider walls aren’t sound proof,” he said. “It’s got terrific parking, but acoustics are not terrific. You still do get a bit of echoing.” Before Let’s Talk kicks off, Taylor is inviting the public to the Lineham House Galleries for dessert and complementary beverage from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Tickets cost $20 and space is limited. To purchase tickets go to Okotoks Creative on Facebook.