(Facebook/Dekker Centre)

By Angela Brown

On with the show

Dekker Centre getting ready to reopen

Sep 15, 2020 | 5:06 PM

The Dekker Centre in North Battleford is making plans to reopen, and will announce its fall line up on Monday.

The venue has been closed since the start of the pandemic in March.

General Manager Kali Weber presented the reopening plan adhering to the province’s COVID-19 restrictions at city council’s meeting Monday night.

Weber said the plan is a working document that may be revised if the situation changes in the future.

“We do believe it is really important to be able to try and present live performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, and continue to revitalize the arts and cultural sector in our province and Canada,” she said.

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Three shows are planned for this fall, from October to December. As well, for the forseeable future, only Saskatchewan artists will be featured.

Performances will be at a reduced capacity, as permitted for the venue size.

Plans are to have personal protective equipment (PPE) installed in the centre prior to opening. There will also be additional hand-sanitizer stations available. Contact tracing will be required for everyone entering the venue.

Staff and volunteers will wear masks. Patrons are also asked to wear a mask when physical distancing is not possible.

The centre is revamping its refund policy in the midst of COVID-19, so patrons will be able to exchange their ticket for credit for another event, up until the next working day after the show, as long as the ticket has not been scanned.

“We do not want people attending a show if they are sick,” Weber said.

A total of 300 people previously completed a survey to offer input on the reopening. Weber said the information “was immensely valuable in helping to shape the direction of our organization moving forward.”

Mayor Ryan Bater is glad the theatre will be able to reopen, and offer shows again soon.

“I think it’s really great to see live art returning to the Dekker Centre, and this being available to our community,” he said. “I know that there are many who will be concerned about the virus and safety. But we were presented with all of the measures that the staff and board are taking at the Dekker Centre, and public safety is the number one priority here. I think that is important for everyone to remember.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW