Chatham-Kent is working to ensure all voices are heard amid some community concerns about the potential relocation of a local art gallery.
Dozens of residents and members of the CK arts community attended a public engagement session on May 27 to question municipal staff on a proposal to move ArtSpace from its King Street West location to a temporary location in the Chatham Cultural Centre.
The initial plan was to temporarily move the community gallery into a lobby and a former gift shop within the Cultural Centre as early as this spring, until a conceptual review was completed to determine a permanent spot within the municipal property.
While a decision on the matter was deferred by council back in April in favour of more public consultation, some community members have questioned the municipality’s motives for recommending the hasty relocation.
Dave Taylor, CK’s Deputy CAO, has given assurances that there are no nefarious plans for ArtSpace, and said the relocation would provide cost savings for the municipality and allow the gallery to leverage the supports and services that already exist at the Cultural Centre.
“The idea was to move ArtSpace now into the Cultural Centre so that we have a clear indication that that is where ArtSpace will go… and then it would be included in that next round of review,” said Taylor. “[ArtSpace is] in a rented space, and we think there’s the possibility to co-locate within a space we don’t have to rent.”
Taylor added that there would be more opportunities for programming, better accessible parking, increased foot traffic, increased visibility, and increased hours of operation for ArtSpace if it were located within the centralized Cultural Centre.
“We think there is a really good case to be made,” he said. “We’re often challenged to do more with the same, and I think this is an opportunity, I think, to do that.”
With the Cultural Centre museum moving to the new CK Community Hub once the building is complete, administration has suggested hiring a consultant to draft a conceptual review and cost estimates for possible future renovations to the space. According to the municipality, a permanent location for ArtSpace is intended to be included as part of that broader review.
“Should we move [ArtSpace] now? Or should we be making a decision about moving, and should it move in the future, or should it remain? That’s a component still to be figured out,” said Taylor. “We don’t have a permanent location in mind yet. That will really be up to community feedback.”
Following last month’s public meeting, Taylor said administration plans to present options to council in July on possibly relocating ArtSpace.
“We got to hear several different views on the approach, and that will absolutely inform our next steps with council,” he said.
For more information about Chatham-Kent’s strategy for the relocation of ArtSpace, click here.
