Dramatic Hotel 540 performing arts centre concept brings potential locations to three

City consultants will have their hands full investigating the feasibility of a new Kamloops performing arts centre. The studies, with a $260,000 budget, are aimed at bringing the concept to a firm proposal for a borrowing referendum next year.

With Wednesday’s announcement that National Hospitality Group is interested in converting the current casino in Hotel 540 into a plan for a performing arts centre, there are now at least three properties in the running as a location — Hotel 540, Henry Grube Centre and the Kamloops Daily News property.

As reported Wednesday in The Armchair Mayor News, City council accepted a committee recommendation on Tuesday to include Hotel 540 in its request-for-proposals package for the study. National Hospitality Group president Robert Gritten said yesterday his company was approached by the City a year ago to consider the possibility of a performing arts centre at the hotel.

With the casinos planning a move up to the former Rona building in Aberdeen, that scenario is back on the table. Conceptual drawings show a dramatic glass-walled arts centre entrance on the east end of the hotel and a sweeping wave-like roof similar to the one on the re-constructed Old Main Building at Thompson Rivers University.

Gritten said his company has an open mind on how an agreement with the City would work. He said a performing arts centre at Hotel 540 would anchor Victoria Street and the cultural district.

A rezoning application from Gateway Casinos for the Rona building is in the hands of City staff. Gateway CEO Tony Santo said the plan for the building includes broadening its entertainment facilities beyond gambling to “a fun place to go, a place where people can enjoy other things.”