The Performing Arts Centre proposal may be scaled back to improve its chances of becoming a reality.
The idea gained traction during Tuesday night's Prince George Regional Performing Arts Centre Society annual general meeting.
"We have cut the venue size back by about 20 per cent," said society vice president Jo Graber. "We've also taken a look at the operations. The cutback does not affect the number of seats of the facility but lobby space and things like that. It will be more of what I call a spartan building."
As a result, cost of the building will go down, he added.
"My personal feeling is that I would not want to build this facility if the city has to come up with the total amount of $40 to $50 million, the same amount as the RCMP building," said Graber.
There are similar facilities in Ontario, specifically in St. Catherines and Brampton. St. Catherines' facility was built with one third funding from the city, one third from the province and one third from the federal government at a time where supposedly there is no funding coming from the government, said Graber.
The committee to build that facility began at the same time as the Prince George committee.
"The difference between St. Catherines and here is that the mayor chose to make it an issue, he got elected and bang, he set it in place," said Graber. "He got federal dollars and Ontario government dollars."
Graber said the committee for the local centre needs to be ready for when all the pieces fall into place.
"None of this will move federally or provincially unless the city is publicly behind it," said Graber. "It is an absolute must that the mayor is behind us and that's the word go. If the mayor is not behind us and the council is not behind us it's a dead project."
The next phase is to take a serious look at funding, whether it be private or public partnerships, said Graber.
In other AGM news, two original members of the executive on the board of directors of the Prince George Regional Performing Arts Centre Society stepped down Tuesday night at the annual general meeting held at the Prince George Community Arts Council.
Sharon Cochran, president, and Anne Martin, secretary, stepped down.
Martin said it was time for new blood to take over the quest of getting a performing arts centre built in Prince George while Cochran will be moving to the Toronto area to be closer to family.
Graber said a meeting within two weeks will determine the new executive.
