Museum muddle

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - October 24, 2007

Revisionist history is alive and well as Vernon city hall proceeds with plans for a new library/office complex.No sooner had council decided to go to referendum Jan. 26 and Coun. Jack Gilroy was defending an architectural design that completely ignores the needs of the Greater Vernon Museum.“They weren’t even in the equation when we first discussed this project,” he said.Pardon me? Not in the equation?Perhaps Gilroy’s memory is limited because he’s only been on council since 2005. But the museum has been in the equation for some time. In fact, the museum was one of the three anchors for a proposed cultural complex at the Coldstream Hotel site as early as 2004. Even before then, museum officials had made it clear that additional space was woefully needed and the current library building — if it ever became vacant — would be ideal for them.

Under the current administration, that concept of moving into the current library branch began to flourish as council proposed a new library building on the civic grounds. The old library would be empty and that would allow the museum to use it, linking itself with the new structure that would include the library and possibly the art gallery.In August, council — including Gilroy — decided to approach the Greater Vernon Services Committee and the District of Coldstream to see if they would pay for expanded facilities for the art gallery and the museum.So just by raising his hand, Gilroy himself placed the museum in the equation.
The problem with the current design is that it incorporates the existing library branch and that space will still be needed for library. And while that may be an effective and financially astute use of the space, it doesn’t address the existing problems at the museum or its long-term needs.

Anyone who visits the museum, will find staff and volunteers doing their best to preserve Greater Vernon’s history in less than ideal conditions.The lack of climate control threatens the integrity of artifacts and prevents large travelling exhibits from coming to town. A lack of room has forced permanent exhibits to collide into each other, and precious historical items are stacked everywhere in storage.Vernon’s cultural tourism would thrive if out-of-town visitors could encounter the history of artists Sveva Caetani and Allan Brooks. But, alas, most of their personal belongings are behind closed doors because there is no room for them.

City leaders have suggested the existing museum facility could be expanded to the rear as long as there is funding provided by the museum society.But such an idea is absurd. First off, and most importantly, the museum building is owned by the city. If it’s going to benefit from the expansion of a physical asset, it should pay for it.Secondly, the museum society is run by volunteers and it operates on a shoe-string budget, primarily through a grant from GVSC. It is highly unlikely the society could come to the table with the kind of money needed for such a construction project.And I question why the museum is being singled out? As far as I can tell, the art gallery board isn’t being asked to cough up cash for their prospective new home.Anyone who follows history will be familiar with the saying: You can’t know where you are going unless you know where you’ve been. And that certainly appears to be the case with Gilroy and the rest of the city.