Most people who stop by the new Morinville Community Cultural Centre to peek at the foyer are in awe of the circular glass-paned wall and sweeping staircase. Built next to Morinville Community High School, it is without a doubt the town’s crown jewel.
And the finishing touches for the much-anticipated official Saturday-Sunday opening celebrations are under way. Saturday evening is the invitation-only gala party with special guests jazz saxophonist Kent Sangster, the Pro Coro Chamber Choir and the Kita No Taiko drummers.
On Sunday, the multipurpose centre will be thrown open to the public for an afternoon party from 1 to 4 p.m. Included is a full slate of entertainment featuring Dance Connection, the Morinville Minstrels, Caviar Players, Yellow Rock Dancers, the Pipes and Drums of Edmonton Transit, Allez-Ouest and a variety of roving artists.
Leaders in Morinville see the town as poised to become a thriving hub of community and corporate activity in the near future. Mayor Lloyd Bertschi explains the $12-million building is the town’s cultural focal point and will become a magnet for new residents.
“When you have a thriving arts community, you can attract businesses in town. When companies relocate their business, the number one issue is the high quality of life. Taxes are about number eight on the list,” Bertschi says.
The 26,000-sq.-ft. facility designed by Manasc Isaac Architects broke ground in May 2010 and was planned to address the community’s space requirements. Incorporated in the design is a proscenium stage, retractable seating, a tech booth, dressing rooms, reception areas, a huge commercial kitchen and five smaller rooms fit to accommodate anything from business workshops to yoga classes.
“People are very proud of this building. We’ve built something that can be accessed, used and celebrated by everyone in town and in the region. It’s really going to be a gathering place,” says arts and culture manager Laurie Stalker.
Anyone walking in from the outside is immediately struck by the foyer’s open, airy feel nurtured by a south-facing wall of windows that let the light stream in. A circular stairway showcased by a funky industrial-style chandelier takes visitors to the second floor mezzanine, an area planned as a visual arts showcase for local artists and touring exhibits.
At the moment, 10-foot-high, seemingly ordinary white acrylic panels are mounted on the walls. But at the touch of computer click, these acrylic panels change colours, patterns and movement.
The theatre auditorium boasts a 31- by 31-ft. stage with fly space, a cyclorama, 60 lighting instruments and a video projection screen ideal for showing movies. Special acoustic panels have also been added to the concrete walls to dampen and better control the sound quality, says Ryan Telford, technical services co-ordinator.
Stalker has planned a professional series of 10 acts in the coming season and has hinted that Pro Coro Canada, Kelowna Ballet and Al Simmons are on contract.
“This is such an exciting opportunity to further develop the arts and culture in Morinville. This building will be a catalyst to encourage more development,” Stalker adds.
At the flip of a switch, the auditorium’s 300 retractable seats, all with armrests, can be rolled back into the wall to create a spacious reception area.
Next to the auditorium is a gleaming, full-service commercial kitchen with a walk-in cooler and convection oven. “We don’t have a contract with any one caterer. We wanted to ensure all our community groups could use it.”
For more information visit www.morinville.ca
