Renovation work is officially underway at the Paramount Theatre, which is expected to be closed for about six weeks.

The Kamloops Film Society has big plans to turn the building into a hub for various arts in the society.

However, Executive Director Dusan Magdolen says things will take time.

“During May basically, we’re going to be building out the operations,” he said on the NL Morning News. “I mean, it’s a big leap for us. We’re a tiny little society that’s taking a big jump into deep waters, you know getting staff and getting a point of sale system.”

“That’s sort of what’s going to be happening in May.”

Among the many changes planned, Magdolen says they want to relay out the theatre lobby and improve the concession offering.

“Some of the things we are going to try and do sooner rather than later – that are still expensive but that we can hopefully pull some money together for – is extending out the stage in the main theatre,” he added.

“It’s so that we can do stand up or small theatre acts or music, and add some lighting to that Theatre 1.

Paramount Theatre is expected to reopen part time on June 1, and there are plans for a grand opening later this fall.

“In the summer, we’ll sort of be testing different things, what kind of movies are people interested in,” Magdolen said. “Hopefully, in the fall, we’ll have some more idea of exactly how we are going to be heading.”

“We’re also going to be looking out there for grants and that sort of thing to see what are some of the pieces that we can do quickly.”

The building is currently owned by the Kelson Group, and it will be run by the Kamloops Film Society on a five-year lease.