RICHLAND, Wash.- A local task force is seeking public funding and sales tax increase to fund new performing arts center in Richland.
The Arts Center Task force is a nonprofit organization in the Tri-Cities currently working to build a performing arts center in Richland Washington.
The arts center will be built next to the reach museum along the Columbia river.
According to the ACTF the building is projected to cost an estimated $54 million.
The ACTF website states it currently has $2 million dollars in direct and promised donations since 2011. This is currently the only capitol raised for the arts center according to the website.
The ACTF says, the breakdown for needed capitol is as follows:
They estimate $15 million will be raised in private and corporate donations.
$5 million will come from grants and state funding.
$20 million will come from local and state funding in the form of a sales tax increase. The City of Richland and the public works department is working with the ACTF to increase Richland sales tax by 0.2% or by two-cents on every $10 purchase.
According to the Richland Public Facilities District, the taskforce is working to create a proposal to get the tax increase on a ballot.
The PFD says, the earliest this tax would appear is early 2025.
According to the ACTF, ground breaking is scheduled for fall of 2025. With the expected completion sometime in 2028.
The taskforce has partnered with 4 local arts groups including the Mid-Columbia Ballet. The ballet has been doing local performances out of Richland High School. The ballet has to work out performances times and schedules with all other local arts groups.
“It’s- it is not a theater. It is a high school auditorium. And it’s also hard to get in. We not only have to compete with other arts organizations . But we have to compete with the school as well. It’s their space as well. So, scheduling is really difficult” Said Debra Rogo, Artistic Director, mid-Columbia Ballet.
Rogo says a dedicated performing arts center in Tri-Cities would allow the ballet to perform without worrying about the limitations of the stage.
“Often when we perform I hear from patrons how lovely it was, and it’s always really nice for people to say that and I appreciate that they like our art. But, if only they knew how much better it could be. “
