The City of Vernon’s plans for a new civic complex have experienced a major setback.The Vernon Public Art Gallery is upset that only half of its space needs would be met in the proposed complex, which would also include a library and offices for city hall staff and the RCMP. “It’s not good use of taxpayers’ dollars to build something that will not last 20 or 30 years,” said Marion Morrison, gallery president.As a result, the gallery is not interested in moving into the new complex and it will not ask the Greater Vernon Services Committee to fund additional space.The city has allocated 7,200-square-feet for the gallery in the complex, whereas the non-profit organization had requested 15,000-square-feet.
“It (7,200-square-feet) is only 10 per cent more than we have now,” said Morrison.Conditions in the existing 6,200-square-foot gallery in the parkade are cramped.“Half our mandate is around programs and workshops. Thousands of kids come through our programs,” said curator Lubos Culen.Any new gallery would require climate control to preserve the integrity of items, proper storage and open design details to allow for exhibits.“It’s not an office space. It’s a very particular space,” said Morrison.“We want a gallery that the community deserves.”Beyond bolstering social and cultural needs, Morrison insists there is an economic benefit to promoting the arts.“They create a destination point in terms of tourists and settlement (new residents). People come to a community because of its amenities,” she said.
Coun. Barry Beardsell opposes the proposed complex.“They aren’t doing anything for the museum and the art gallery,” he said.The complex design does not include any room for the museum although it has sought additional space for years. Beardsell believes the Jan. 26 referendum to borrow money for the $31 million project is destined for failure.“There is no credibility to the whole process,” he said.Coun. Pat Cochrane supports the gallery’s concerns. “I’d like to hold final judgement until a better plan is in place but the space is a lot smaller than we should be planning for the long-term,” said Cochrane.Coun. Buffy Baumbrough was surprised by Morrison’s comments.“It’s disappointing they won’t support it. I hope they will bring their concerns directly to the city,” she said.“We need to discuss it further. We need to ensure people understand why the decision was made and if there is room for movement.”
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EDITORIAL: Civic plan springs a leak
The bungling of the proposed $31 million civic complex is beginning to reach heights rarely seen outside of Pink Panther movies.First you had the counter-petitio
n process deal a knockdown blow to the once promising complex. Now comes the revelation that the art gallery wants no part of the new building.The gallery is justified in feeling slighted after being offered space only marginally larger than its current location.Meanwhile the cramped museum is being left on the sidelines, still searching for space to expand.All of which leaves many to ask what exactly taxpayers are getting for their $30 million. Sure there’s the much needed library expansion and some additional office space, but what else? Space for city hall and RCMP staff is badly needed but it is hard to see how this complex can be sold to the public in the run-up to a referendum without the inclusion of two of Vernon’s most important cultural institutions. Meanwhile, the museum and the art gallery are left to continue searching for larger locations while the city embarks on a multi-million dollar project. If the civic complex were to pass referendum and the city to commit millions to the project, both would find themselves kissing any prospect of significant help from Vernon good-bye. After all with large projects in the form of the Multiplex, Performing Arts Centre and, should it come to pass, a civic complex, there will be little appetite for more public funds to be spent on two more cultural fixtures, no matter how important they may be.
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