Art gallery next, says mayor Kate Bouey - CASTANET Dec 1, 2015 / 10:15 am

Kate Bouey - CASTANET Dec 1, 2015 / 10:15 am
A new art gallery or “art cultural complex” could be next on Greater Vernon's agenda, following a successful referendum for a new ice sheet, according to Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund. On Saturday, Greater Vernon residents voted to borrow money to twin Kal Tire Place as a replacement for the aging Civic Arena. “It's something they deserve, and they've patiently waited, so that will be coming shortly, too,” said Mund. “They have been pushing this since the mid-2000s.” However, Mund added nothing could go forward until an arts and culture master plan was completed by staff and politicians at the North Okanagan Regional District. He said politicians had to move in the right direction and ensure it was “what the general public” wants. “We want to make sure we're doing the right thing,” said Mund, pointing to the possibility of a multi-use facility. “We're just finalizing the cultural plan at RDNO.” Even the chance the matter could be returning to the front burner was good news for Greater Vernon Public Art Gallery executive director Dauna Kennedy Grant. “Certainly, having the strong voice coming from the city that we now need to focus on culture, is something that we're really going to be pushing for,” said Kennedy Grant. “We've been working on this since 1986, when we first received a grant to build an art gallery. “It's long overdue, and the parkade location was only ever meant to be a five-year temporary location – we've been in there since the early '90s.” The gallery is open to the concept of an art-cultural complex, rather than a stand-alone gallery, said Kennedy Grant. “It all depends on what site. We wanted to look at the needs of the community, and so if there were other needs and other things that had to be incorporated into that building, that would be the perfect opportunity to deal with some of those things. “We're just looking forward to being able to have that conversation with the political body and with the general public to find out what the needs are.” The gallery knows what its needs are following a review this year by the Canadian Conservation Institute. A copy of that report has been given to the North Okanagan Regional District. “The homework has been done as to what the needs are,” said Grant, listing temperature and humidity control and how the permanent collection is housed as key problems at the current location. The estimated cost of building an art gallery is “probably about a $10 million price tag,” she said. “We already have the land,” said Kennedy Grant, referring to the old flower shop, city-owned property, at the corner of 31st Avenue and 31st Street.