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Council stalls $240K in art projects

Public art projects totalling $240,000 including a $100,000 gazebo are on hold until city council has more information on what these projects actually are.

Public art plans totalling $240,000 including a $100,000 gazebo project are on hold until city council has more information on what these projects actually are.

Administration came before council during the May 6 meeting asking to withdraw $240,000 from the public art acquisition, maintenance and restoration fund to cover art projects that are planned for this year. The money would have also partially gone towards a project slated for 2020.

Had the withdrawal been approved, more than $134,000 would have been left in the fund. While all the art projects were listed with their price tags, no additional details were provided.

This caused councillors to take a pause by voting to delay their decision until the May 21 meeting.

“I need the backgrounder on all of them,” Coun. Ken MacKay said. “I can’t make honestly, truly any type of comment on any motion that’s in front of me if I don’t have a sufficient background.”

Coun. Natalie Joly did attempt to break up the projects a bit so some could be approved that night including $2,000 for the city’s emerging artists, $31,000 for a design team for Red Willow Park and $9,000 for St. Albert’s contribution to the Canada 150 mosaic. Joly’s motion didn’t move forward as council instead found it would be easier to keep all the projects together.

Coun. Sheena Hughes agreed with MacKay by adding there wasn’t enough information provided.

“The problem is the backgrounder isn’t detailed enough and especially if we’re going to start picking and choosing which projects we’re doing, I want to have some level of confidence about what we’re saying yes or no to,” she said. “I just think this is the responsible way to handle this situation just based on where we are at right now. That way administration can at least have a decision about the festivals in a reasonable timeline and we’re making decisions that are a bit more educated and clearer.”

The projects presented to council were approved by the city’s public art advisory committee during its Feb. 27 meeting.

Paul Pearson, the city’s manager of creative industries and cultural development, did provide some information on what the money would be going towards during the meeting.

“The projects the committee is recommending are $62,000 for regular, ongoing public art initiatives, which includes $2,000 for the 2019 emerging artist acquisition and a total of $60,000 for the public art project portion of the children’s festival,” he said. “This $60,000 covers projects for both 2019 and 2020. These are large scale installations at the festival this year. This will also allow us to get a jump ahead of next year’s festival by confirming architects. This will assist us with the long-term planning and sustainability of the festival.”

As for the $100,000 Northridge gazebo project, Pearson said the area was picked out as an ideal location for public art and would include robust community engagement and consultation to find the best piece of art that reflects the community.

“We’re really looking forward to working with residents to enhance this part of our city,” he added.

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