Naming rights options are now available and a Givealittle funding page is up and running to reach the target.
The original design was for a $4.5m facility which just suited the college needs but strong interest from the community resulted in the school board commissioning a $10m design.
It will be used by college students as well as local groups - there will be separate rates for community and commercial users.
"This is going to be a centrepiece in the community for many years to come," college Board of Trustees chairwoman Jennie Gutry said at an Electra business breakfast at Southward Car Museum on Wednesday.
"It will be a place to learn and teach and be entertained.
"In that way, it is something the whole community can be connected to."
Ms Gutry said, "Make no mistake, this centre will be good for businesses here [in the district]."
It would be the "most significant community building in the district over the next 15 years".
"There's not going to be a facility like this between Wellington and Palmerston North, so the ability to attract lots of quality acts will be big.
"While our future performing artists are foremost in the college's mind, we have consulted widely with the community, particularly the performing arts sector who see a real need for a venue which will be available to teach and showcase local artists as well as attract national and international acts."
College principal Tony Kane said an arts centre had been on the college radar for some time.
"We have very poor music and drama facilities, in fact we chopped our drama room up and turned it into two classrooms just because we needed to, and the drama people went into the hall, which is no fun."
He said the college had some access to capital funding from the ministry as well as a piece of land that was originally going to be an intermediate school.
The land was going to be sold off but the college cited health and safety concerns that areas in front of Raumati Beach School and in Hillcrest Rd were accidents waiting to happen.
The college asked for a slice of a block of land the ministry was going to sell off, to which the ministry agreed and kindly chipped in a cool $1.5m to help create a one way traffic system, via Raumati Rd, past the arts centre, exiting at Hillcrest Rd.
To make a donation go to www.givealittle.co.nz and type in Kapiti Performing Arts Centre
For partnership options go to www.kapitiartscentre.nz or www.facebook.com/kapitiproject
