Open to change at Shatford

Photo: Brainstorming at the Okanagan School of the Arts open house Monday night.

The future of Penticton's historic Shatford Centre was a key topic of discussion at Monday night's Okanagan School of the Arts open house, which sought input from the public on a few options for the building's future as the end of their lease looms near. 

About 200 people packed the room at the centre, strolling through a series of stations manned by OSA board members. 

"The room was full of conversation and a great buzz," said OSA president Robin Robertson, who was newly elected to the position that same evening.

She described the open house as a chance for the public to learn about the OSA's overarching goals for the future, and hear their opinions. 

"And that includes the both blessing and burden of the Shatford Centre. We informed people that our lease on that building is coming due in 2019, and there are a lot of challenges with the building as it currently is," Robertson said. 

The centre has been operating for the last few years as a sort of community centre, a space that is "under-utilized," according to Robertson. The society has poured $1.7 million to date into it for renovations, with an expected $4 million more needed, though OSA only leases the building from the school district. 

"Lots of people who lived in Penticton remember the Okanagan School of the Arts summer programs, it was a big deal here for a lot of years, and we've gotten away from that," Robertson said. "Unfortunately, our society got kind of tied up in looking after that historical building."

Attendees at the open house were given the option to vote on a few potential futures for the centre. 

"Do we want to keep it as is, do we want it to become a regionally significant arts and creativity centre or do we want it to be a destination arts school?" Robertson said. "Those kind of plans."

The board of directors is working with a consultant on consolidating the results of the informal voting process as well as the general feedback gathered at the event, though Robertson said the vibe she got was that people were open to change. 

"The centre has naturally evolved through time, and we do have an opportunity here," Robertson said. "I think people are open."