🎭 A New Stage for Kelowna: How the Cultural District Is Getting Even Better

By Mark & Maddie | Selling Kelowna Real Estate Group | eXp Realty Kelowna

Kelowna’s Cultural Heart Is Growing

If you’ve walked through downtown Kelowna’s Cultural District lately — between the Rotary Centre for the Arts, the Kelowna Art Gallery, and Prospera Place — you’ve probably felt the energy.

Now, that buzz is about to grow even louder. A group called Citizens for a New Performing Arts Centre (CNPAC) is leading the conversation about building a new, world-class Performing Arts Centre right here in Kelowna.

Their goal? To create a modern venue that will host concerts, plays, dance, and community events — all while keeping the Kelowna Community Theatre (KCT) alive and active.

📍 Where It’s Happening

The proposed location sits in the heart of Kelowna’s Cultural District, surrounded by:

• The Rotary Centre for the Arts – home to the Mary Irwin Theatre

• Kasugai Gardens and Stuart Park – Kelowna’s green gathering spaces

• Local restaurants and wineries – BNA Brewing, Krafty Kitchen, Salt & Brick, and more

• Waterfront hotels – Delta Grand Okanagan Resort, Prestige Beach House

• Steps from the Okanagan Lake boardwalk

This walkable cluster makes the Cultural District one of the most vibrant areas in the city — and the perfect home for Kelowna’s next major arts venue.

🗓 Save the Date: November 13 @ 7 PM

You can see the vision yourself at a free public presentation on
Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 7 PM at the Mary Irwin Theatre (Rotary Centre for the Arts, 421 Cawston Ave, Kelowna).

Speakers include:

• Robert Claiborne – Architect & Partner at DIALOG Design

• Myles Bruckal – President, CNPAC

• Jodi James – Intern Architect at DIALOG

🎟 Free admission (by donation) | Register at theboxoffice.ca

💬 Why This Project Matters for Kelowna

Kelowna has grown into one of the fastest-developing cities in British Columbia.
Our local artists, musicians, and performers deserve a space that matches the scale and creativity of the community.

According to the City’s Performing Arts Task Force, the new centre would:

• Add 1,500–1,600 seats for larger productions

• Boost tourism and downtown business activity

• Preserve KCT as a community-scale theatre

• Strengthen Kelowna’s brand as a cultural destination in the Okanagan

For residents and business owners, this means more events, more foot traffic, and more opportunities for local growth.

🏙 How It Fits into Downtown Kelowna’s Future

This project aligns with broader revitalization around:

• Bernard Avenue – the pedestrian-friendly retail core

• Water Street developments and UBC Okanagan’s downtown campus

• New mixed-use residential projects drawing more people into the core

Together, these investments are transforming Kelowna into a year-round, walkable city centre that balances lifestyle, culture, and community.

🙌 How You Can Get Involved

1. Attend the Nov 13 event and share your thoughts.

2. Follow Citizens for a New Performing Arts Centre for project updates.

3. Support the arts by donating, volunteering, or spreading the word.

4. Stay informed about Kelowna real estate and community growth with our weekly newsletter.

🌅 Our Take

As local REALTORS® who live and work in the Okanagan, we’ve seen firsthand how cultural investment shapes a city’s identity and property values.
Projects like this Performing Arts Centre don’t just benefit artists — they help create vibrant neighbourhoods where people want to live, invest, and explore.

If you want to keep up with Kelowna’s growth stories — from new housing to major community projects — subscribe to our weekly email below.

Mark & Maddie
Selling Kelowna Real Estate Group | eXp Realty Kelowna
📞 778-744-0872 | ✉️ [email protected]
Follow @sellingkelownabc
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