The president of Th’YARC says they received the keys to the former Arcadia School building last week.
Mitch Bonnar says they need to move forward with plans to re-locate from Parade Street to the 28,000 plus square foot facility just outside town.
Late last year, the Municipality of Yarmouth put out a request for proposals on the building, and Th’YARC were the lone bidders.
A purchase sale agreement was finalized earlier this year.
Bonnar says they plan on having an open house in the near future.
“We won’t do it on an ‘as-invited’ basis, we’ll be open to the public and they can come in and see exactly what we have right now, and we’ll be open to ideas and discuss possibilities.”
He says they’re planning on adding a 10,000 square foot theatre to the building, and to develop it into a centre the community will be proud of.
Bonnar says they never wanted to leave the town, but they refuse to be tenants in a new arts centre planned for downtown Yarmouth.
Bonnar was asked if he thinks higher levels of government would fund two arts centres located within five minutes of each other.
“Everything is a risk and a bit of a gamble, but we wouldn’t have purchased had we thought we weren’t getting funding. If there are two art centres, they both will fail. It’s as simple as that. I don’t believe there will be two art centres.”
Bonnar says he hopes the town will support Th’YARC in Arcadia.
Hear more from Mitch Bonnar on the Weekender this Sunday morning.
