Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: March 13, 2010 12:00 PM
The Vernon Public Art Gallery is preparing to reveal its contributions to the community, as well as its ongoing constraints. Greater Vernon Advisory Committee directors have been invited to tour the facility in the downtown parkade April 19. “We want to show them the inner workings of the gallery,” said Marion Morrison, gallery president. “They are our major funder and they need to know what we do.” Beyond discussions around programs and exhibits, it’s expected there will be talk about the wish for a purpose-built gallery. “The gallery has been looking for a permanent home since the 1980s,” said Morrison. “We’ve been in temporary quarters for 25 years.”
The gallery presently occupies 6,200-square-feet, but gallery officials have stated that there’s a need for a 16,000-square-foot building with 16-foot-high ceilings. Climate control is required under federal policies for large, national travelling exhibits. In 2015, the gallery will host the Okanagan Print Triennial, but the current facility may not be able to handle all of the activities and spectators. “We find our location difficult,” said Morrison. “It’s not an attractive place to walk to and we’re out of space. We’d like to build on our permanent collection but there is no where to put it. There’s no real space for incoming shows.” Not only does the gallery add to Greater Vernon’s cultural scene, Morrison is convinced it plays a role economically in terms of tourists and new residents. “We see ourselves as part of the cultural amenities that attract people here,” she said.
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