The New Westminster arts community is up in arms after finding out that the city's new 80,000 square foot civic center will not have any gallery space for exhibits and displays.
This bombshell was revealed at a planning workshop last Thursday night and we’ve received more than a few emails on the subject over the past several days.
According to one source, the question of having a dedicated gallery space was quickly brushed aside at the planning workshop with a vague suggestion from city staff that gallery space could perhaps be part of the centre’s foyer.
However, another source in the arts community has indicated that the city has no intention whatsoever of putting a gallery in the new civic centre and the source was told to stop lobbying for gallery space because it was already decided prior to the public workshop that there would be none.
The obvious question to ask at this point is who decided this? What information informed this decision? And why go through the pretence of a public consultation if the decisions have already been carved in stone beforehand?
Many who’ve contacted us feel this is another example of the city making important decisions in a hasty manner without taking the time to review or even reflect upon input from the public.
To say the least, the planning process around the new civic center appears to be anything but open and transparent and it has the hallmarks of yet another “done deal” process emanating from the backrooms of City Hall rather than being the product of an input-driven process involving the citizens of this city.
One resident who contacted us said the city needs to start recognizing that they don’t have all the answers and that, when given the opportunity, the residents of New Westminster are creative problem solvers the city can count on to help. Residents should be the first resource in planning processes like this one, not the last resource or an afterthought.
There’s a good article on the subject posted on the Newsleader’s website pointing out that during last year’s public input on the civic centre, local art exhibit space was identified as a priority for the new centre and it was tied for third place with theatre seating and a visitor’s centre among respondents.
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Frankly, the article in the Newsleader shows just how much intellect $100M+ per year can buy you in a city staffer.
Our Parks, Culture and Recreation, assistant director Joanne Edey-Nicoll is quoted as saying that “The city claims that last Thursday’s open house was the first time they had heard anything about the desire for separate gallery space in the new facility”. Within a breath of this statement, she contradicts herself by saying,”In last year’s public input, local art exhibit space was tied for the third highest priority among respondents.”
I am sure in a war of words she see’s a distinction between ‘separate gallery’ and ‘exhibit space’. But it is clear from the reaction from the arts community (the very ones who rallied for the Massey in impressive numbers) they ‘meant, intended and clearly still do not think’ they are different entities ….but one in the same.
For a city that is paying a person over $100M to Manage Culture & Arts, it is mind boggling that the inclusion of the art gallery in the civic centre would not have been a logical deduction. It appears now that there never was intent to have a gallery space for the arts anywhere in the City. What kind of oversight it that? Is this the result of the arts strategy? Where has the arts commission been in this issue? Where they consulted? Did they issue an opinion that the civic centre was not to have a dedicated gallery or were they even asked?
I guess we can’t afford the price of intellect in New Westminster!
Is New Westminster’s Columbia going to be abandoned as 'slap and tickle' street?
Once again the New Westminster city "Ship of State" has abandoned its arts "passengers" with neither lifeline nor lifejacket.
This is not the first time that the city has deep-sixed proposals to further the arts in the city.
Back in the 2004/2005 era, a proposal to have the CIBC building donated and annexed to the Burr Theatre to serve as an arts centre was "sidetracked", likely by an "edifice complex"—and an excellent opportunity was lost. That innovative proposal, developed as a collaborative effort by the arts community, business and heritage preservation interests and local philanthropists was to have artist studio space and offices on upper floors and a gallery, by day, in the "banker's hall" to be shared with the Burr Theatre, at night, as a lobby annex.
Roll forward to last fall, and The Columbia Theatre Heritage Trust offered to purchase the Burr from the city for $1 million. Their proposal would have seen artist studios, an artist co-op store and gallery incorporated into the building, restored to its original configuration and purpose.
Both of these proposals had potential to meet these needs, but ‘someone’ decided that this proposal wasn't good enough.
For whom and why? Who really benefited by the choices made?
Now the ultimate demise of a potential home for artist space has occurred as the single-minded Titanic-like "civic centre" moves to meet the iceberg of public input and opinion as citizens' wishes are ignored once again.
Who is the captain of this misguided ship?
Is Columbia Street really going to be abandoned to become "slap and tickle" street?
Let's hope that the comedians at LaffLines (new owners of the Burr Theatre) get more laughs than the "comedians" at city hall who are running the so-called civic centre show.
A neighbour told me New Westminster has one of the highest number of artists of any city of its size in the country. Does anyone know if this is true?
If it is true then shouldn't we be highlighting this fact and putting our artists and their art on prominent display?
Artists bring vibrancy to a community and we need to bring that kind of vibrancy to New Westminster because it's missing.
If the artists are here living among us then we need to draw them out into the open and shine a spotlight on them. Having gallery space would seem to be a no brainer for New Westminster and I'm surprised that it wasn't a core part of the plan.
It seems that WW's solution to all issues within the City is to hire another director and say that he's addressed the issue. In the mean time our taxes continue to rise.
If you represent an organization that gets civic money, be careful what you say!!!
You will have your money cut off faster than you can say **** ****** For Mayor.
Say anything and you will never be on a committee again, or be employed by the city, or be nominated for an award, or go on a City trip, or...........
Read the line in the Newsleader that talks about how surprised city hall is at the request for a Gallery. Then read a few more lines away where they say a Gallery ranked third on the list of most important elements in the new center. We pay these people how much? Where is our new six figure arts and cultural manager.....?
Consultation in this town means if you agree with the City you'll be happy with the decisions.
With the Pier Park (another great job of consulting), up to $100 Million blown in the downtown.
Recreation facilities are so run down, compared to neighboring municipalities we are not even on the map. Everything is old and run down.
Where is the vision? Oh yeah, I forgot, living wage, homelessness, and highrises. Highrises everywhere.
Not enough places for schools, no new place for rec. centres, no new places for sports.
But these yahoos sure will give themselves a raise.
Spoke once to often said....OMG is this what New Westminster has become. This is not leadership this is just unacceptable who do these people think they are. I was told once that the city is run by less than 50 people - we need to fire them and start fresh!!!
It's time for a complete change at the top and then a routing out of employees at city hall. It makes me sick that this is going on in our city. This is what happens when people don't get involved.
To Depressing: I don't believe the mayor and council have yet given themselves a raise.
See: http://www.royalcityrecord.com/health/decision+council+hike/3161041/story.html
It's coming though.
Not afraid to use my name: Tomkinson
Is there really a shortage of art gallery space in the city? It seems to me there is exhibit space every where you turn and a very tasteful dedicated gallery in Queens Park. No doubt there are others. The library has some dedicated space too, I think.
Considering what this town does NOT have any of, I am not surprised there will be no dedicated exhibit hall in the new building.
If this building had included the space, however, I am sure there would have been some substitute hue and cry from "the usual voices".
Will is quite right, the Arts Council has a very fine "community" gallery in Queens Park. A place for both established and emerging artists to exhibit. Stop by for a visit.
The arts component of the civic centre is 10,000 sq. ft. not including the non-proscenium theatre (this will be used for convention and meeting space). A specific gallery space would need approximatley 2,000 sq. ft. which would leave 8,000 sq. ft. for workshop space.
Not only would gallery space in the civic centre be a benefit to the residents of New Westminster, but this is the City's opportunity to show its commitment to the businesses on Columbia Street by providing a gallery to compliment the museum as an economic development driver. Bringing world class exhibits would be a draw not only for patrons on the skytrain route, but also through the Fraser Valley for those that do not wish to or as an alternative to Vancouver.
The Arts Council has written a letter to City Staff supporting specific gallery space.
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Nice to hear the "voices". as opposed to laying down and supporting wasteful management of taxpayers dollars.
The only Public Art gallery is tucked away in the basement of Centenial Pavilion in Queens Park. The gallery is little known destination for tourists and difficult to find if not familiar.
The library displays some Art.
I think art can easily be displayed in a permanent area in the entrance foyer of the new centre with minimal cost. if designed properly.
I have to agree, our current City Management is overpaid for their qualifications. There is no justification for increasing wages and as a result Salaries 4% in a recession. There are many examples of overspendiing and I challenge all bloggers to make a comment on the most obvious waste. It's just not Wright.
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