The Joni Mitchell Centre may become south downtown's star attraction under a proposal quietly taking shape outside of the limelight.

It would be the name of a cultural complex pencilled into the city's development plan for the west side of the Gathercole site. The new Persephone Theatre would be the main occupant, along with a 1,000-2,500-square-foot room dedicated to Mitchell's career.

If built, the theatre complex may become the focal point of an annual Joni Mitchell International Music Festival.

Ron Lamb, a family friend of the musician and artist, and Tourism Saskatoon official Randy Fernets are spearheading the project. Mitchell, her Saskatoon parents and Persephone, which is meeting with the city about its plans, have expressed tentative interest.

The Mitchell room may include a visual timeline of her musical and artistic development. Don't call it a museum, though.

"This is a living kind of thing," Lamb said. "It's exciting.

"My bottom line is just to do something for Joni and her parents. I've been to the Buddy Holly Centre (in Lubbock, Tex.) and thought, 'Why don't we have a Joni Mitchell Centre?'"

Other cities have capitalized on homegrown musical talent. A theatre is named after Burton Cummings in Winnipeg and a centre with memorabilia and outfits honours Shania Twain in Timmins, Ont.

Mitchell, 60, was born in Fort Macleod, Alta. Her family moved to Maidstone, then North Battleford after the Second World War. When she was nine years old, they moved to Saskatoon.

"She's got recognition worldwide -- a great following of fans," Fernets said, adding it's no stretch to expect Mitchell's name and memorabilia to draw fans from the U.S. and overseas.

"Living here in Saskatchewan, we don't realize how successful she is around the world."

An exhibition of her artwork at the Mendel Art Gallery proved a huge draw in 2000.

The idea of a centre honouring Mitchell appeals to her mother, Myrtle Anderson. She's already picturing childhood photographs of her daughter, a chalkboard she sketched on and 40 scrapbooks about her career in the centre.

"It's a nice idea. I'd be proud, I guess. It's a strange thing. Joni is so down to earth. You'd never think of her as a celebrity. She's just Joni."

Mitchell isn't conducting interviews on any topic, her agent told The StarPhoenix.

Lamb raised the idea with Mitchell last summer, when the singer visited her parents in Saskatoon.

"She doesn't want something that's a static display," Lamb said. "She wants it more dynamic -- music playing, maybe a quartet from the symphony. A total cultural experience."

The music festival would fit well in early July, Fernets said, when tourist numbers temporarily dip. It would be an ideal celebration for the city's 2006 centennial, perhaps featuring a performance by Mitchell, he said.

Anderson said she mailed her daughter the city's south downtown plan, but hasn't heard her opinion.

Mayor Don Atchison said he initially likes the potential Mitchell's name and career has to boost south downtown's appeal, but said it's too early to say which ideas will make the final draft of a city plan.

The Mitchell centre may have other occupants as well. Meewasin Valley Authority is considering whether to move and expand its interpretive centre from Third Avenue South to the site.

Persephone expects its two-stage theatre to cost $6 million to build, in time for a September 2005 opening.