Antigua and Barbuda’s new Performing Arts Centre is expected to officially open Oct. 23, with equipment testing, deep cleaning and minor finishing work underway at the approximately 850-seat facility.

Cabinet spokesman Maurice Merchant said Thursday that Rawdon Turner updated Cabinet on the final preparations during its weekly meeting Wednesday.

Testing of the centre’s multimedia and technical equipment has begun, while workers are carrying out comprehensive cleaning and completing the remaining finishing work.

The facility was created through the extensive refurbishment of the former Deluxe Cinema building in St. John’s. It will provide a venue for performing arts, cultural productions, conferences and other major national and international events, Merchant said.

“The government expects the official opening of the Performing Arts Centre to be on October 23rd,” he said during the post-Cabinet briefing.

Cabinet congratulated Turner and the project team on the transformation, describing it as an example of the government’s approach to restoring and repurposing buildings in the capital.

The project also forms part of a broader effort to revitalise St. John’s, beginning with High Street.

Cabinet established a three-member ministerial team comprising Melford Nicholas, Turner and Maria Browne to oversee that redevelopment programme.

Merchant said improvements around the Performing Arts Centre would serve as a model for work along High Street, from its upper end to its lower end.

Government has also approved the provision of paint to help improve buildings in St. John’s. Merchant encouraged property owners to contribute by maintaining their premises, saying an attractive business place can help draw customers.

No opening programme or details of the centre’s first scheduled performances were announced during the briefing.

Source: Antigua News Room Antigua and Barbuda Performing Arts Centre Set for Oct. 23 Opening.