Multi-use facility art allocation decided – Airdrie Echo

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Council unanimously landed on a decision for public art pieces at the new library and multi-use facility during the March 21 council meeting, agreeing to invest 1 per cent of the project’s construction budget.

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With a baseline budget of $62.7-million, 1 per cent of construction is estimated to be about $520,000 that will be invested towards public art installations at the facility.

The percentile was initially proposed as a best-practice that’s generally used in municipal capital projects, but not all of council felt that it was in the best interest of the project.

Councillor Al Jones felt $520,000 was a steep investment, especially if it meant taking away from any of the desired functions of the facility.

“That still seems like a lot. I don’t know if I’m comfortable with just saying 1 per cent—I think we should set a limit,” said Jones.

“$520,000… is a lot of money to dedicate to public art, although it may be something that we all enjoy.”

Councillor Ron Chapman agreed with Jones, and also suggested awaiting the formation of a new municipal arts council to help steer that aspect of the project.

“That’s a big dollar item for public art. We’re also forming a new arts council, so would this be something they would be a part of?”

“I think it would be a great kick-off for a newly-formed arts council.”

Councillor Candice Kolson said she believed council needed to make the investment to ensure art pieces have an opportunity to thrive at the new facility.

“I would love to see really unique and different art. Maybe at some point $520,000 isn’t enough to give that grandeur that I’m envisioning; however, being budget conscious, I understand that at some point we have to reign it in,” she said.

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Councillor Tina Petrow also agreed that the facility needed visual variety.

“I’m fully in support of allocating this… to art pieces. I’m also happy to see that it’s for multiple pieces and not just one giant thing,” she said.

Councillor Darrell Belyk supported the allocation, seeing he’s seen the success of the standard of practice first-hand.

“Over the years I’ve seen that 1 per cent allocated as well as what comes out of it. I definitely would be in favour of that.”

Chapman and Jones were persuaded to support the motion after some discussion. Jones said he still has concerns, but left it to the confidence of Colliers Project Managers.

“I want to make sure that we’re not sacrificing something that would help our arts community succeed in order to facilitate public art,” said Jones.

“If (Colliers) is confident in the abilities of this budget to solve all, then I will support (the motion).”

Michelle Lock, director of Community Services at the City of Airdrie, told council that the public art portion of the project would be driven by a collaborative committee.

“How we would get to whatever outcome council wants would be through a working committee that would have a combination of professional consultants as well as our in-house team and probably… some other external artists,” said Lock.

“(The committee) would develop the scope of work and a methodology to procure the public art within the budget.”