The Vault Cultural Collective’s Chair Carolyn Steeves updated the Wheatland County council on the status of the arts initiative located in Strathmore, which also caters to residents in the county.

The group asked the county for support during the presentation.

“Our journey began almost 20 months ago,” she said. She outlined the current six non-profit members of the group: Arts in 817, The Strathmore Performing Arts Festival, The Strathmore Children Choir, The Strathmore Theater Players Guild, Western District Historical Society and Wheatland Society of Arts. More recently the Chestermere Fine Arts Guild has joined as well.

She spoke of the current building which was the former Standard Shoe Shop, Union Bank, and Strathmore Standard building.

“Our mission over our twenty-month journey has come down to provide our community with a central resource dedicated to the promotion and enhancement of historical and fine arts initiatives,” said Steeves.

“This is a work in progress,” she said and explained that they are all volunteers who run the facility from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.

In addition, Steeves spoke of the community space upstairs which has received a number of inquiries for rent.

There have been Strathmore Theatre players events and yoga classes held in the space so far.

There have also been inquiries for the space from local community groups, local government, and private individuals for weddings.

The upstairs can accommodate about 50 people.

“Currently there is a high school art show at the facility we're very, very proud of being able to champion our young artists,” she said.

Steeves said there are many plans for the facility in the future.

The County council accepted the presentation as information.

 

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