Council considers gallery referendum

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: October 21, 2012 1:00 AM
Another referendum could be put before Greater Vernon residents in the spring.  The City of Vernon’s economic development advisory committee will recommend Monday that council support the proposed sports complex and art gallery moving forward to referendum concurrently. “If both issues come together, it makes sense for all,” said Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe, a committee member. The Regional District of North Okanagan has initiated the process for an April 6 borrowing referendum for a sports facility at Okanagan College. The Vernon Public Art Gallery wants to construct a new facility on the old Vernon Flower Shop site on 31st Avenue. However, RDNO, which oversees cultural matters, has not provided support for a new gallery yet. O’Keefe admits participation from Coldstream and the electoral areas is necessary before a firm date can be set for an art gallery vote. It’s expected VPAG will make a presentation to the regional district in the foreseeable future. The city has given the VPAG until Dec. 31 to demonstrate it has the ability to build on the publicly owned flower shop site. “It’s far enough along in thinking to be moving that way (referendum),” said Tom Christensen, who sits on a VPAG steering committee. “There are still issues to work on but the concept is strong. There is an opportunity to build community awareness.” A stand-alone, 18,000-square-foot gallery could cost about $5 million. One of the issues that arose during a recent meeting between the economic development committee and the VPAG was whether the Greater Vernon Museum could be part of expanded facilities. “If we were to do both together, we would need a larger space (than the old flower shop),” said Christensen. “There’s also a challenge of timing because the gallery has done a lot of the background work on determining its needs.”
--------
Gallery concept needs revisiting
By Editorial - Vernon Morning Star Published: October 21, 2012 1:00 AM
There’s absolutely no question that the Vernon Public Art Gallery requires new premises.  And truth be known, it’s the community that requires a larger facility to meet growing demand. Presently, there is limited space for education programs or visiting exhibits and the public’s art collection is in a less than ideal environment because of the lack of climate control and storage. There is also the reality that a modern gallery can play a critical role in renewing downtown Vernon and bolstering the economy by providing the amenities tourists and new investors want. However, gallery proponents could experience a challenge in garnering support from regional politicians and voters if a referendum is held April 6, 2013. Yes, a possible $5 million price tag is a concern, but the primary stumbling block could be the gallery going it alone and not working in conjunction with the Greater Vernon Museum. Both agencies have similar needs when it comes to climate control, storage and public program space. Not only could there be capital and operating savings if they came together, but they could create a cultural draw that would be the envy of the Interior. It’s been stated that VPAG has been progressive in pulling plans together, while museum officials haven’t been as proactive when it comes to addressing their needs. However, this should be a case where both groups work shoulder-to-shoulder, even if it means one having to nudge the other one along. The prospect of a successful referendum will increase if  broad-based interests in the community are encouraged to vote. Taxpayers will also know that their limited financial resources are being invested efficiently. In the end, the ultimate goal should be doing what is best for the community.