The future of ARTspace is yet to be written in stone.
Chatham-Kent Council was set to vote Monday on administration’s recommendation to move the downtown collaborative art gallery to the Chatham Cultural Centre (CCC).
Following public feedback from an in-person meeting and online survey, a staff report to council suggested councillors vote on the possibility of having a third party operate the gallery.
However, several artists, including Crystal Martens opposed in their deputations.
“Feels like an effort to absolve the Municipality of accountability for its own cultural assets,” said Martens. “These are assets that could be thriving if it had the proper management and direction from trained leaders.”
Martens referenced the Municipality’s “BaCK to Chatham-Kent” campaign, highlighting former residents who returned to CK, and how a move like this undermines that strategy.
“When we neglect quality arts programming we signal to young families and returning professionals that we are not building a dynamic, forward-looking community that values their talent and expertise,” said Martens.
“We deserve a gallery system that prioritizes meaningful art, education, elevates public discourse and grants our community access to exceptional world class art without having to travel outside our community.”
Councillor Morena McDonald amended the motion to delay the ARTspace move for two years and create an advisory group to capture the feedback from artists in the community.
Councillor Brock McGregor agreed.
“Thinking about what’s happening downtown with 100 King, with Hub, with what the Cultural Centre might look like in the future I think that pausing and letting the dust settle a little bit and giving that community an opportunity to engage with ARTspace I think is a relevant next step,” McGregor said.
“If over that two-year period, they are reenergized and they can build some consensus around what the future should look like and see some alternatives that will give the next council a better place from which to make a decision.”
Council unanimously voted to defer the decision on relocating ARTspace while directing administration to explore a new operating model for the gallery.
$100,000 from the Strategic Development Reserve was approved to hire consultants to develop renovation concepts and cost estimates for the Chatham Cultural Centre.
Council members also directed administration to prepare a business case outlining ARTspace’s current operating costs and revenues, while exploring whether the gallery could be operated by an independent third-party organization.