The field of candidates to head the new Aventura Arts & Cultural Center has been trimmed to four, members of the city's advisory board were told June 9. 

Two local candidates and two from outside Florida will be invited back for a second round of interviews.  While no names were made public, the board was told the field was exceptionally strong.

But it was the facility itself that was center stage at the meeting as the advisory board members were led on a PowerPoint trip through the facility going up at the east end of 188th Street.

From dark bluish carpet and dangling lighting fixtures to wood veneers and bathroom tiles, representatives of the architectural firm PGAL showed off what would soon be coming out of the ground. Slides showed the board how the theater would fit on the site and how it would look from the bay at night.  

When completed the facility will have about 325 seats in a 3,859 square foot theater. A covered entryway will lead visitors into a public area finished in terrazzo tile. A 763-square-foot patio will overlook the bay.

The advisory board also got a first look at proposed rental rates, which run from $500 for a nonprofit, early week performance to $750 for a weekend for-profit performance. The city will operate the box office function, print tickets and collect a facility fee. But tickets will also be sold through Ticketmaster, local outlets and sponsors of the individual events, the board was told.

City Manager Eric Soroka showed off a new Arts & Cultural Center page that he expects will debut on the city's website June 12.

The advisory board will meet again July 13 and be briefed on programming and sponsorship plans.