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“Right now we are in mid-moving frenzy,” said Okanagan School of the Arts executive director Kim Palmer Thursday while looking around her discombobulated office. “We have the big steel box being delivered Friday in which we will be storing all of our assets.”
Those assets Palmer mentioned were spread out across the concert hall portion of the building Thursday.
“There’s a certain amount of paperwork when you’re talking about an organization that’s been around since the 1960s,” said Palmer. “The things we’re really focusing on are the art supplies, easels, collapsable tables, things we want to have ready to go for when we can kick start our arts programs again.”
Yes, the Okanagan School of the Arts is on the move.
After nearly 10 years of operating in the historic Shatford Centre, the OSA, one of the longest-running schools of its kind in Canada, is leaving the spacious confines of the 99-year-old building on Main Street.
“We’re trying to tidy up the building as much as possible, and selling bits and pieces of furniture, rolls of fabric and sewing machines - all the wild and wonderful things we’re finding in different corners of the Shatford,” added Palmer. “At the same time, I’ve been slowly moving myself into my new office at COWORK Penticton.”
Palmer intends to be set up in her new office next week, and available to meet with people.
The plan is to host OSA programs at various venues across the city.
“Cowork Penticton has been an important part of our community since they opened,” said board president Keith MacIntyre. “It is where great connections are made and has been a source of many great collaborations in Penticton and beyond. Cowork Penticton is a great home for us as we look towards the future.”
Considering the Shatford Centre and its three levels have tens of thousands of square feet, it should come as no surprise that Palmer is finding many unique items she never knew existed - until now.
“I did not know that we had a giant roll of bright red fabric in the corner of the storage room,” said Palmer. “I did discover a piano for the first time two months ago. You’d think I would have noticed that before. We found looking deeply into the corners has definitely yielded some surprises.”
The Okanagan School of the Arts still has many items available for purchase by the public, including the lease on a Ricoh copier, office chairs, matching plate sets, and of course that piano Palmer recently located.
“I’m afraid all of our air conditioners have already sold. Those were very popular. I’ve still got a heater, which has been less popular,” said Palmer. “We need to get rid of everything by the end of August, because that’s when we need to leave the building and we don’t have the capacity to store all of those items.
Those items the OSA still has available can be found by clicking here.