Fort Smith (Sep 04/06) - Since its inception in the late 90s, members of The Artists of the South Slave Society (TASSS) have dreamed of building an arts centre in Fort Smith. In recent weeks, the group has come closer than ever before.

The society has been working on a proposal to the territorial department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI), which both the government and the society hope will bear fruit.

"I'm really excited, I'm really hoping we can get this all together," said long-time TASSS member Laurie Young.

Since the society was incorporated in 1998, Young said the biggest concern among members was the eventual creation of a multi-use arts centre.

"The South Slave is full of very talented artists, and there is nothing available in the area for them to utilize," she said.

"Our biggest problem has always been funds."

"We're quite optimistic," said ITI regional program co-ordinator Mike Couvrette. With recent increases in tourism funding, he said a tourist-drawing arts centre would be a "good match," with the territorial government's plans for the South Slave region.

"Should a proposal come forward, we would give it serious consideration," he said.

The planned location for the centre would be in Fort Smith's Mission Park, the heritage site that was once the administrative hub for the NWT.

"Mission park is near and dear to most people's hearts in Fort Smith," Young said. "Having a presence there in the summer time would make most of the town quite happy."

Last week, the society held a meeting to pool ideas on what shape the upcoming proposal might take, leading up their annual general meeting next week. Couvrette was on hand as a facilitator.

Despite the optimism, TASSS president Don Harney pointed out the project was still "in the proposal stage," and wasn't a sure thing.

"Right now it's just thoughts," he said.

"We need a co-ordinator, we need a business manager, we need a consultant to assist us with doing this proposal..."

However, he said he believes an arts centre would help boost the membership of the society, as well as drawing more tourism to Fort Smith.

Regardless of the shape the centre would take, Couvrette said the facility was shaping up to be a big project with an uncertain budget and deadline.

"It will definitely be a multi-year project, depending on what (the society) brings forward."