Art
Brandon hopes to build downtown cultural hub including library, museum, art gallery
Manitoba’s second-largest city is hoping a potential $5 million provincial grant will help create a cultural hub in its downtown core.
The City of Brandon has applied for the Arts, Culture, and Sport in Community Fund to create a home for the Western Manitoba Regional Library, Brandon General Museum and Archives and the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba by renovating the city’s Library/Arts Building.
The goal of the project is to unite the three organizations under one roof, said Dean Hammond, general manager of corporate services with the City of Brandon.
“It would be a place for people to … enjoy all three of those amenities under one roof,” Hammond said. “I mean, the library, the museum and gallery are all three separately-run entities … two of those three are in a city building right now.”
The project emerged out of concerns the library was potentially moving out of the downtown, Hammond said. City Council wanted to ensure the library stayed where people are.
“Through those discussions and with both with the library and the art gallery, you know then we came to a point … we’re going to keep you downtown and turn this building into something really special,” Hammond said.
A conceptual design study has been completed, and if the project proceeds a detailed design will be created in 2023. Following a tender, construction would potentially begin in 2024.
Moving forward will depend on if the grant is awarded. If funding is successful, the grant would cover 50 per cent of the $10 million project. If funding is not secured, city council will decide if the project will move forward with the city covering all costs.
Carson Rogers, Brandon’s downtown library branch supervisor, hopes the project gets the public excited to come downtown while expanding the usership of all three partners.
“If people are travelling through or coming into Brandon and they’re looking for cultural events, this is the space that we can promote as a place to come,” Rogers said.
The library became involved with the proposed cultural hub through the need to upgrade its current facilities. This led to talks with the city and other partners in the project.
“This is going to make it easier for those people to access it all in the same day … it’s also going to make this location, this building in downtown Brandon, a destination for people.”
Currently, the art gallery and library are in the same building but have different points of access. The proposed renovation will provide access directly from Rosser Avenue.
“This is a really big investment in all three of these organizations. It’s also a really big investment in the downtown core of our city,” Rogers said.
“It’s just a great investment in the community as a whole because if this project goes through … the community is going to expand and improve.”
Partners eager to join forces
Doug Derksen, Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba board member, says the cultural hub taps into the great potential of Brandon’s downtown.
When looking at other cities, galleries, theatres and other activities draw people downtown, Derksen said. Something similar is needed in downtown Brandon.
He thinks the hub could be a solution.
“I think it’s really important that people in Brandon identify the gallery, the library, the museum … and sort of create a sense of pride of place that bigger places like Winnipeg or other places have.”
At one time the town centre, the current location of the gallery and library, was a thriving hub for the community. He says, this has changed over the years as the downtown has slowly lost its sense of vibrancy.
Things are changing, he says, new businesses are opening showing the potential of downtown but more support is needed.
The hub can provide a vibrant sense of culture and build on the momentum of revitalizing downtown, he said.
“If you go to another city as a tourist, you don’t go to the suburbs, you go to the downtown … so it would be nice for Brandon to create that.”
Brandon General Museum and Archives museum administrator Keith Waterfield says part of the challenge of creating the cultural hub will be inspiring Brandonites to reimagine the downtown as the place to be as a community.
“You know, people are afraid to come downtown and Brandon is very much a car city, and I think people just sort of just drive through downtown,” Waterfield said.
“I think if you … were to park your car and walk around downtown and walk the perimeter you would get a different opinion.”
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
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