West Shore volunteers are determined the curtain will rise on a new community-focused arts and culture centre for the area.

While plans for the facility have been in the works for many years, Judith Cullington, president of the Juan de Fuca Performing Arts Centre Society, says the project is continuing at pace.

鈥淚t鈥檚 full steam ahead for 2025,鈥� she said. 鈥淪tay tuned 鈥� lots going to be happening.鈥�

Top of the list for the society is finding a location for the centre, which could include a 350-seat theatre, rooms for teaching music, drama and dance, and a fine art and pottery studio.

鈥淲e do have our eyes on several sites,鈥� says Cullington, who says the society has been focusing on the 鈥渃ore鈥� area of View Royal, Colwood and Langford. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a big piece of our work for the coming year.鈥�

To help residents envision their ambition, Cullington offers Sidney鈥檚 event, conference and theatre facility, the Mary Winspear Centre, as an example of what the society is hoping to achieve.

鈥淚t's not over the top extravagant,鈥� she says about the Mary Winspear. 鈥淚t鈥檚 by community, for community.鈥�

The need for a performance arts space on the West Shore was first identified by the Capital Regional District in the early 2000s, says Cullington, with the society picking up the baton for the search in 2016.

鈥淭here is a big hole in the West Shore,鈥� she says, explaining West Shore residents are travelling to Sidney, downtown Victoria and beyond to get their cultural fix.

鈥淲e've got a growing population, we need fabulous arts and culture facilities 鈥� and they just don鈥檛 exist,鈥� said Cullington.

Alongside the ongoing search for a location, the society is planning a workshop in the spring to explore the design of the centre, with a more special event earmarked for later in the year.

Supporting the society is the inter-municipality committee, which includes representatives from all six West Shore councils 鈥� Langford, Colwood, View Royal, Metchosin, Highlands and Sooke.

The committee meets once a month to explore shared funding and operating models, says Cullington, as well as the best location for the centre.

The community is also fully behind the project, she says, with locals voicing their support at multiple outreach events.

鈥淚t's all incredibly positive,鈥� said Cullington.

While the centre will provide a new home for arts and culture, worthy of note is the potential economic value of the centre for the West Shore, says Cullington.

"This is a huge investment in the community 鈥� we鈥檙e currently missing out,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his is about building community ... creating joy, and it's about economic development 鈥� it's all of those things."

To find out more about the Juan de Fuca Performing Arts Centre Society, visit the website: .