The Lacombe Performing Arts Centre Foundation is another step closer to having a venue to perform in here in Lacombe, as city council agreed on Monday night to accept their proposal of purchasing the Trinity Lutheran Church as information, and agreed to help them form a formal business plan to make the purchase possible.

President of the Foundation Grant Harder says they've looked at all available buildings in Lacombe, but the church was the perfect fit.

“We can check all the boxes when it comes to this building; centrally located, ample parking, really good acoustics, has a great vestibule for art exhibits and hosting different types of functions , not just theatrical performances… we feel it’s a really good stepping stone to get us up and running as a theatre.”

The Foundation originally had a vision to build a $20 million, 550 capacity cultural building near Cranna Lake, but Harder explains how that goal had to be reined back a bit.

“We know that the City of Lacombe and the community is not in a position to support a $20 million facility, so we stepped back two years ago and said, let’s go back to square one and do what we can to support the arts in the community, and look at different alternatives to establish a theatre.”

But, Harder says those plans have now been put on hold, as the church may suffice, with the help of future renovations.

He says they hope to have a set up similar to how other municipalities have successfully run a performing arts centre like this, with the city becoming the landlord and the Foundation being the tenant, who would operate and maintain the property.