The Town of Collingwood is a step closer to bringing a new arts and cultural centre to the area. Councillors voted unanimously to develop a business case for the centre at a July 24 meeting, with funding for that work coming from the town’s Arts and Culture Legacy Fund.
At the meeting, Dean Plater, Managing Director with our Colliers Project Leaders Infrastructure Advisory team, outlined the type of work the business case could encompass, including: functional design elements; fundraising estimates and strategy; operating costs based on the design; and a site selection review. Public consultation will also be done as part of the business case.
“This is really an exciting day for the residents of Collingwood, and a pivotal point for the arts community,” said Rob Hart, representing the Collingwood Arts, Culture and Entertainment group, in his comments to councillors on the motion. “This is a critical phase of this project.”
The cost of the project is currently estimated at between $25 million and $34 million, excluding architectural designs and furniture and equipment. A parking structure could also add another $10 million to the overall project costs.
