The Waitaki District Council is expected to confirm the timeline for the project tomorrow.
Combining the three institutions would be a complex process and involve a lot of detailed preparation work, but the combined facility would be ''a fantastic new asset for the Waitaki district'', Community Services Group manager Dr Thunes Cloete said.
Now, the council will start work on raising the external funds needed, reviewing all the collections in the current facilities, identifying items and collections of significance, determining storage and working space requirements, developing themes, exhibits and programmes, and developing the architectural drawings that would see the existing Forrester Gallery building extended at the back to nearly double its current size.
One of the biggest challenges will be securing external funding.
''While council has committed $1.5 million towards the project, we still need to raise another $3 million from external sources,'' cultural facility development advisory committee chairman Hugh Perkins said.
A funding subcommittee had been formed and early indications from external funders were positive, Mr Perkins said.
''We are confident we can meet the fundraising target we have set for the project,'' he said.
Community input to help shape the facility will also be sought.
''An important part of this process will be involving the community, which is why our plans and timeline include opportunities for them to influence important aspects of the project, including the stories we share about our district, how the public spaces will be configured and what programmes the facility will provide,'' Mr Perkins said.
The development project team would be working with stakeholders over coming months to develop the main themes and architectural drawings.
A project page on the Waitaki District Council's website will be updated regularly to provide information on project progress and opportunities for community involvement.
