Why a Performing Arts Centre—Now
Lethbridge is a creative city. Audiences are hungry, artists are busy, and our existing venues are at (or beyond) capacity. Without a modern performing arts centre, groups can’t grow, young talent leaves, and audience dollars leak to other cities. A new PAC will keep culture, community, and economic activity here at home.
What We’re Proposing
A modern, purpose-built performing arts centre in the Civic Common Redevelopment area that will serve Lethbridge for generations:
Large multi-purpose, music forward venue
1,000–2,000 seats) with excellent acoustics, clear sightlines, orchestra pit, and a full fly system.
Flexible studio / community space
200–300 capacity) for theatre, dance, recitals, talks, festivals, receptions, and civic events.
Back-of-house built for real productions
adequate wing space, load-in, dressing rooms, green room, storage, rehearsal/workshop areas.
Audience amenities
accessible design, comfortable seating, welcoming lobby, adequate washrooms, and an intuitive box office experience.
Together, these spaces unlock programming we simply can’t host today—while doubling the available dates for local groups.
Where We Are in the Process
Location: Identified within the Civic Common Redevelopment Strategy.
Past work: The City invested in functional planning (2010/2011 & 2021) confirming the ongoing need and right-sizing of the venue.
Current focus: Ensure the project continues to move forward.
What we’re asking of Council: In the 2026 CIP deliberations, approve the planning work needed to complete design and ready the project for external funding.
A Brief Look Back: Lethbridge Stages Through Time
1885–1911: Multiple theatres served a town of only a few thousand. The Majestic Theatre seated 800+ with a full fly system—touring shows played here regularly.
1966: The Yates Memorial Centre opened (488 seats; no fly). It has served the community well but was never designed for today’s production standards.
2007–present: Facility studies and Arts Re:Building identified the PAC as a core city need. CASA and SAAG were renewed; the PAC remains the missing piece.
Today: For a city over 110,000, we have fewer than 1,000 suitable seats for live performance and limited technical capacity. We’re past due.
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Lethbridge Performing Arts Centre 