Art Gallery Plan Off To GVAC

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM  Monday, 22 October 2012 19:31
The next stop for a proposed new Vernon Public Art Gallery will be the regional parks, rec and culture committee.  Vernon council decided not to take a stance on the facility, but instead will forward a recommendation from its economic development committee to the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee for discussion. It calls for two referendums next April: one for an Okanagan College sports complex, and the other for a new art gallery. Art Gallery executive director Dauna Kennedy Grant says that would give them enough time to be ready. "Definitely. Our committee has been doing a lot of work over the last two years. We're ready to go, so when we get approval from Greater Vernon Services we're ready to go and pull it out for a spring referendum." Councillor Catherine Lord would like some debate about a combined art gallery and museum on the Coldstream Hotel site. "Our residents would be better served by a joint facility like that, and it would certainly keep the costs down, particularly operating costs." Kennedy-Grant says they'll  be seeking seven million dollars to build on a city-owned site next to Cenotaph Park, but could also combine with a new museum. "If another site came up that enabled us to build a museum on the same site, we could certainly still be open to that." Gallery officials will present their proposal to GVAC November 8th.
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Vernon council reluctant to endorse vote on new art gallery 
By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: October 22, 2012 6:00 PM

Vernon politicians are taking a go-slow approach over a proposed new art gallery. The city's economic development committee recommended Monday that council support a referendum on an art gallery being held concurrently with a vote on an Okanagan College sports facility in the spring. However, council instead decided to inform the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee that only the economic development committee, at this time, supports holding a referendum. Mayor Rob Sawatzky says his council is reluctant to take a formal stand yet, largely because the city's regional partners have not had a formal discussion on an art gallery yet. "There are some council members that have not seen the proposal and not seen the specifics. They are being cautious," he said. One politician is also expressing concern that the art gallery plan doesn't completely meet the needs of the community. "I'd like to see the museum and art gallery together in one location and that's not covered," said Coun. Catherine Lord. Look for more details in Wednesday's Morning Star.