GVSC’s actions dismay cultural groups

Vernon Morningstar By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Jun 10 2007
Cultural organizations are left wondering if Greater Vernon politicians take their needs seriously. Various cultural groups were invited to listen to the Greater Vernon Services Committee discuss a proposed arts and cultural master plan Thursday. But the meeting ended abruptly after the directors decided to table the matter. “I’m baffled by the meeting,” said Sigrid-Ann Thors, with the Vernon Performing Arts Centre Society. “I’m concerned there’s no vision. They can’t even decide how to hold a meeting.” Ron Candy, Greater Vernon Museum curator, is worried tabling of the cultural plan will stall a proposed expansion of the museum. We need more space and anything that may cause that to slow down is a concern for me,” he said. Marion Morrison, Vernon Art Gallery president, questions what the GVSC has been doing with culture. “We’re really disappointed. It was one year ago to the day that I made a presentation and asked them to move ahead with this,” she said.

Cliff Kanester, BX-Swan Lake director, and Stan Field, BX-Silver Star directors, led the charge not to discuss the proposed master plan Thursday. They insist the master plan should not proceed while a review is under way to see if the parks, recreation and culture function is operating efficiently. “There’s also a bunch of stuff in there not in the mandate,” said Kanester.
Among the items is the possibility of expanded facilities for the museum and the Vernon Art Gallery. “There is no mention of acquisition of land for cultural in the (existing) bylaw,” said Field. Barry Beardsell, Vernon director, called for a legal opinion on the wording of the bylaw, and he is also not pleased with how art groups were treated by the board. “A number of organizations have been given a disservice by the calling of this meeting and then (some directors) challenging the scope of the GVSC mandate,” he said.

The City of Vernon is proposing to construct a new library/administration office that could include the art gallery. If it occurs, the museum could expand into the existing museum. But GVSC provides operating funds for these agencies and a financial commitment would be required. “We can still proceed with the building. We need a library and we require office space,” said Buffy Baumbrough, Vernon director. “But whether or not the art gallery is involved, is yet to be determined.” It’s not known when the service review will be completed and the arts and cultural master plan will be back before GVSC.

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GVSC actions a bad joke Jun 10 2007 EDITORIAL

The Greater Vernon Services Committee should be absolutely ashamed of itself. Community organizations were invited Thursday to observe discussions about a proposed master plan for arts and culture. Instead, all they saw was infighting, confusion and a lack of direction. They left the meeting wondering if the politicians truly take the matter seriously. And who could blame them. Because the antics of elected officials certainly didn’t do anything to instill confidence. Specifically, directors Cliff Kanester and Stan Field were completely out of line when they insisted that the master plan be put on hold until a service review be conducted. There is nothing wrong with reviewing the parks, recreation and culture function to see if it’s operating effectively, but it shouldn’t delay day-to-day activities. With a timeline for a service review unknown, cultural issues could be left in limbo. And that is unacceptable to those cultural organizations as well as the residents they serve. Field and Kanester also suggest that bylaws don’t allow for expansion of cultural facilities or purchasing of land for them. While that may technically be true, the rules are a joke. The bottom line is GVSC oversees these agencies and provides operating funds. The relationship has existed for decades, and expanding of facilities fits completely within the mandate. Thursday’s meeting was so pathetic the directors should not be compensated for the brief time they were there. Absolutely nothing was accomplished and the public’s business was not done. It is time for the political games to stop and for arts and culture to become a priority.