The Town of Port McNeill will soon have a community art space.
At their regular meeting April 20, council approved in principal a request by Kathleen MacArthur to use the old recycling shed as a community art space.
MacArthur appeared at the March 2 meeting of council to present her idea to create an area to showcase art designed and created by North Island Secondary School students.
The space would also be used to host workshops for the community.
MacArthur is in the process of forming a not-for-profit society and will be asking for the community’s help to put a new roof on the building, pay for hydro and perform other general maintenance the building requires.
Councillor Shelley Downey asked if the group would be paying rent for use of the shed.
“We were going to tear down the building,” said Administrator Sue Harvey, adding the group is going to fix it up and has not asked the town for anything.
“I would like to encourage this, not discourage it. I don’t see any loss here,” said Councillor Graham MacDonald.
Downey said she would like to see a report on the facilities that are currently being used by groups to understand “who we are giving what to, for what price, and what’s free before we keep handing over (buildings) and paying the bills.”