Facelift plans unveiled
Eptek Centre celebrates 40th anniversary with announcement of extreme makeover
As guests assembled last Sunday to celebrate the milestone 40th anniversary of the Eptek Art and Culture Centre in Summerside, most had no idea of the surprise that was coming.
Instead, they wove their way through the tapestry of colourful quilts that hung from the ceiling, touching the floor and gradually turned their attention to David Keenlyside, as the executive director of the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Fouondation, took the stand.
Keenlyside announced the building will get a new look for the future at an estimate of $150,000.
“The Eptek Centre has faced challenges with the air-conditioning system and some of the infrastructure, as a result of being an older building. We’ve only been able to Band-Aid repairs or make small improvements here and there, but this is a special year. We need to look at the next 40 years,” he said.
“We want to make sure the building is safe, secure and has a quality environment, so we pinpointed a good chunk of our capital budget for this year to give the building a facelift. We will look at those structural deficiencies and things that need fixing.”
Renovations for inside begin this November.
“The front entrance needs new tile work, windows, mullions and some of the impact of the environment has been significant there and that needs to be fixed. Our washrooms are not up to code, and we will address accessibility issues,” he said.
Painting and outside work to enhance the building and make it attractive is marked for April 2019.
“We … have come up with a concept for the exterior of the building. Right now from the boardwalk we are disguised and falling behind with visibility, but we have spoken with Kieran Keller of the Harbourfront Theatre and their board and have agreed we can move forward.
“We need better visibility to attract more people and to separate us from other buildings. Now is the opportunity to make sure Eptek is really special.”
Nonie Fraser, former director of the Eptek Centre, says an ongoing commitment is needed.
“In the early days when we had the national funding there was a great school program. The Eptek Centre got three buses a day, five days a week for six weeks, with around 5,000 kids. We worked hard. But when we no longer had the national funding, we worked on partners and sponsors. Local businesses really stepped up,” she said, adding, ‘we need continued partnerships, Friends of the Eptek Centre and support from the community.”
Estelle Dalton, the chairwoman of Friends of the Eptek Centre, says its latest purchase was a sound system.
“It’s in our constitutional mandate to provide the Eptek Centre with support, and we get a lot of seniors coming to view these exhibits, so purchasing the sound system is one of the things we’re very proud of,” she said.
“We also purchased tables, a dishwasher, stove and fridge. George Clark, the first chairman of the Friends of the Eptek Centre, purchased the piano we still use to this day,” Dalton said as she motioned to Betty Buley, who tapped out a tune on the grand instrument.
“We need better visibility to attract more people and to separate us from other buildings. Now is the opportunity to make sure Eptek is really special.” David Keenlyside