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.
