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An artist's rendering of the Lyric after restoration

The federal government is investing in Swift Current's Lyric Theatre.

The historic building will benefit from a $500,000 grant from the Legacy Fund Component of the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program.

This round of funding deals with upgrading structural issues.

"This has been a great venue for 100 years," said Cypress Hills Grasslands MP David Anderson. "In 2005 the Southwest Cultural Group came together to preserve the building. They've done a massive amount of volunteer work to bring the building to where it is now. We're glad to be able to finally be a partner with them in the ongoing restoration of the Lyric Theatre."

The federal grant matches the amount raised so far by the Southwest Cultural Group. The City of Swift Current chipped in $250,000 (conditional on the federal grant) and the rest comes from private donors.

 "The Lyric Theatre is an irreplaceable Central Avenue icon," said Mayor Jerrod Schafer. "It is essential that a significant investment into the building takes place to ensure that its success continues well into the future."

 


"When you have a community that is supporting a project," Anderson added. "You've got different businesses and individuals that are willing to step up and support it financially as well... there's good reason for the government to also then get involved."

The theatre's supporters were thrilled to receive the grant.

"We had hoped and planned that our application would be successful," said Southwest Cultural Development Group President Gwen Uher. "But I don't think we dreamed that we would be this successful."

This funding should cover Phase 1 of what will be a five phase restoration project.

"It is just the starting point," Uher said. "It is probably cost, to restore the whole building, probably $5 million dollars. We are 1/5 of the way there."

Work on Phase 1 of their restoration will go to tender shortly.

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Architect James Youck, Southwest Cultural Development Group President Gwen Uher and MP David Anderson 

Interview with MP David Anderson:



Interview with Gwen Uher:


Interview with Mayor Jerrod Schafer:


Interview with Architect James Youck: