After waiting for a promised new art gallery since 1973, the Burnaby Arts Council wants to take it off its wish-list.
On Monday night, the arts council's Irene McCutcheon, director, and Brian Daniel, vice-president, told city council that a new art gallery would be an economic generator if placed in a better location.
"The new facility would make art and culture accessible to all, from the serious collector to the building artist found in every school," said McCutcheon, who is also an artist. "As a cultural beacon for the community, the art gallery needs to be highly visible, (and an) architecturally distinguished building - well designed, staffed by experienced professionals - with high-level collections, exhibitions and educational programs."
McCutcheon said the council's advocacy committee has been asking for a new art gallery in Metrotown Civic Square, by the Bob Prittie library in the eastern grassy field, for the past two years.
"Most importantly it needs to be a place for people to gather and celebrate the visual arts," she said to council. "An art gallery is not an elitist thing at all. It's a place for everyone."
A new art gallery would benefit the city as a whole, McCutcheon added. She also said there's about $6 million worth of contemporary prints sitting in storage.
"Because of the 2.8 acres of land, accessibility and location, socially an art gallery benefits the community in sharing and celebrating creativity and design," she said. "Economically, an art gallery attracts business and people. It creates economic spinoffs, anchors cultural activity in Metrotown Civic Square by creating a focus, a soul, a heart, a dynamic place."
According to Daniel, this issue has been going on since 1973, when a new art gallery was a priority and had plans made up.
In 1987, a proposed art gallery and performing arts theatre in civic square were part of the original plans beside the Bob Prittie library. Then in 1998, there was another plan for an art gallery expansion, and a feasibility study was completed, along with public support.
"As you can see, in 2013 we seem to be relegated to a wish list," Daniel said. "We feel there's been a lot of wonderful city facilities being created and we take advantage of those. A new art gallery would benefit all of the citizens and enhance the city."
Coun. Sav Dhaliwal, who also sits on the parks commission, said he had heard similar delegations from the group before.
"It has been, from their perspective, a long, long journey to this," he said. "But we have stated clearly from the commission perspective where we are at."
Dhaliwal said the commission sets the priorities for the city and that the needs of the arts community is currently being met.
McCutcheon said the art gallery is an old house with a ghost in it, and noted the sports community has many facilities and recreational spots.
"I would like to say, I believe we have 53 soccer fields in Burnaby, and we have (four pools), nine community centres, two pitch and putts, two 18hole golf courses, 159 parks, 40 softball fields, 87 tennis courts, 20 baseball diamonds, 23 basketball courts, a rowing pavilion, a soccer stadium and there are other things too," she said. "We live in a wonderful city . and the important thing about art is, once you start investing in it, it goes up."
Coun. Pietro Calendino said that cities with magnificent museums are heavily subsidized by the state and the entrance fees are quite high.
He noted the Vancouver Art Gallery's difficulty in surviving and its challenge to open a new one despite a multi-million dollar grant it recently received.
"(You're) proposing something every city would like to have, but is a very expensive proposition," Calendino said. "Maintaining it, running it, new exhibitions - without subsidies from higher levels of government, I'm not sure we'd burden the taxpayers (more)."
McCutcheon asked how the city affords to operate all the sports facilities so easily, but when it comes to the arts it's, "no, no - it's too expensive?"
Calendino said what they currently have might not be ideal, but there are art facilities the public can take advantage of already in place.
Mayor Derek Corrigan said council would think about the proposal.
"You've given us all something to think about," he said.
