Cultural services structure to continue

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 19, 2013 1:00 AM
There may be enhanced focus on Greater Vernon’s cultural amenities now that a bureaucratic process has been shelved.  The current structure of the arts, youth and culture function will remain in its current form and not undergo restructuring as occurred with parks and recreational facilities. “It’s working well and we’re not getting a lot of complaints about it. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” said Mike Macnabb, Greater Vernon Advisory Committee chairperson. One of the reasons there won’t be a service review is such a process could have delayed discussions around the concept of a new art gallery and museum and possibly going to a borrowing referendum. “The issues with the museum and art gallery need to be addressed sooner than later,” said director Jim Garlick. It’s anticipated that representatives from the Vernon Public Art Gallery and Greater Vernon Museum will be before GVAC Aug. 8 to lobby for new facilities and a referendum. However, Macnabb won’t speculate on whether those requests will be fulfilled or a timeline for a decision. “It’s unfair to comment because we have been so busy with the recreation facilities review,” he said, adding that there has been little time to look at much else. In a recent interview, VPAG executive director Dauna Kennedy Grant stated that a process for developing a new gallery and museum must proceed. “We are still looking at timelines for a referendum so there is an urgency to sit down with them,” she said of GVAC. “We will keep pushing forward because they are too important to have on the sidelines.”