Cultural advocates are stepping up the pressure. The Vernon Public Art Gallery and Greater Vernon Museum are demanding a special meeting with the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee to discuss going to public referendum for new facilities. “We want to continue on with our plans and set timelines,” said Dauna Kennedy Grant, VPAG executive director. “We are still looking at timelines for a referendum so there is an urgency to sit down with them.” GVAC decided in February not to consider the possibility of a new gallery and museum until a review of cultural services is completed. That review has not started yet and Kennedy Grant is concerned the gallery and museum are on the political back burner. “We will keep pushing forward because they are too important to have on the sidelines,” she said, adding that a special meeting is required because the issue cannot wait until GVAC’s regular session Aug. 8. Rob Tupper, museum president, says there is a need to start developing facility plans. “We want to achieve results, and want our community leaders to share our vision and also to have the political will to move to the next steps of building expansion,” he said. “As expansion of cultural facilities will only happen with extensive volunteer efforts, we need certainty that our civic leaders are in full support of arts and culture in our community, and by extension, the groups of volunteers that make it all happen.” Mike Macnabb, GVAC chairperson, is willing to sit down with VPAG and the museum. “We are more than happy to welcome any delegation and to be provided with information,” he said. However, Macnabb is reluctant to call a special meeting of GVAC when there is a meeting already scheduled for Aug. 8. “To collect everyone between now and then is not necessarily efficient. It costs a couple of thousand dollars every time we meet,” he said. VPAG wants to construct a $5 million facility on City of Vernon owned land on 31st Avenue, while the current museum complex could be expanded to provide more space.
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Cultural debate can wait EDITORIAL Morning Star : Published: July 14, 2013 1:00 AM
There’s no question that Greater Vernon politicians have ignored the plight of the community’s cultural amenities. Both the museum and public art gallery have been allowed to languish through inaction. The facilities are too small and in some cases, artifacts are in jeopardy because of the conditions. And the situation has worsened because elected officials and bureaucrats have been unwilling to give the museum and art gallery the same priority as the sports complex or other projects. As a result, the frustration from art gallery and museum advocates is completely understandable. However, at a time when finances are tight and taxpayers are feeling the pinch, those same advocates must appear to be reasonable and aware of the economic climate we live in. That’s why pushing for a special meeting with the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee is a bad idea. First off, GVAC already has a regular meeting scheduled for Aug. 8. Every time a meeting is held, there is a cost for staff and politicians to gather, and it is taxpayers that fork over the cash. Based on that alone, cultural matters can wait three weeks. Secondly, GVAC has made it clear since February that it will not make any decisions on facilities until a review of all cultural services is completed. The goal of that review is to try and create efficiencies and that can only benefit residents and the cultural groups themselves. Yes, there is a need to avoid procrastination, and action is required on a museum and art gallery. But given that the matter has dragged on for years, three more weeks isn’t a major problem.
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RDNO July Meeting Schedule (Complete)
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