Vernon's arts community is celebrating SvevaFest with a series of events to mark what would have been her 100th birthday.

Famed for her strange life as well as her art, Sveva Caetani donated her 6,000-square-foot house on Pleasant Valley Road to the City of Vernon as a cultural centre. Next year, the centre opens to the public.

“Hopefully by next spring, and our target date is May 1, maybe June 1, the house will be completely open to the public on the main floor as a heritage site,” said Susan Brandoli, executive director of Caetani Arts Centre.

Brandoli said it has taken some time to get to this stage because money has had to be raised for the installation of a sprinkler system. Heating and cooling systems are also being upgraded.

“I think she would be loving this. Having the house open was her intention. Having the house used by the community was definitely her intention.”

The centre is working with the Greater Vernon Museum and Archives for the return of some of the family's artefacts and to make some displays based on the artist's life's work and the strange but facsinating story of the house and of the family.

“A virtual prisoner” of the house for 25 years following the death of her father, Brandoli said Sveva's artistic output was affected by that period.

The centre has five pieces of Sveva Caetani's art although she was prolific in her later years.

Most of it is held by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts “which we'd like to get the work back at some point,” Brandoli confirmed.

SvevaFest activities include:

Sveva, a play at the Powerhouse Theatre, Oct. 18-28

Sveva Imprisoned, a film at the Towne Cinema, Oct. 29

Sveva Caetani exhibition at the Greater Vernon Museum & Archives, Oct. 18-28th.

Haunted Halloween at Caetani House, Oct. 28, 6-10 p.m.