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As the Greater Vernon Cultural Centre continues to progress, more information is becoming public about how the centre will run after it’s built.
The GVCC will be owned by the Regional District of North Okanagan, and the Greater Vernon Museum and Vernon Public Art Gallery will operate within the centre.
“Spaces managed by the museum and gallery, programming and associated fees for them are expected to be developed and set by those organizations,” said RDNO communications officer Stacey Raftus in an email.
Common areas in the building will still fall under RDNO jurisdiction and will be free unless booked for a private event or program and closed off to the public.
“The development of the schedule of fees will follow the same process used by the RDNO for other public facilities it manages (Pat Duke Arena and Lumby Outdoor Pool in Lumby, for example),” said Raftus.
RDNO doesn’t have a formal rate-setting policy, but Raftus explained the district typically follows certain principles when setting fees for parks, recreation and cultural services.
First, that residents have some free and/or low-cost access to opportunities at facilities. RDNO also looks to ensure user fees supplement the cost of operations – adult programs aim to recover operational costs while youth and/or disability programs can be subsidized up to 50 per cent.
As for how rental fees will be established, Raftus said RDNO will review similar facilities and consider the cost to operate and maintain the building.
“A primary objective of a fee program is to maximize facility use and program participation while aligning public subsidy of its operating costs with public benefit,” said Raftus.
“While public benefit can be subjective, common indicators include programming and events that increase mental and physical health and fitness, physical and creative literacy and skill development for children and youth, social opportunities — particularly for groups that may be vulnerable to social isolation, such as teens and seniors — and community development.”
The RDNO currently expects the GVCC will open to the public in July 2027.
