of directors,” she said, as passing cars loudly honked and cheering echoed through the city’s downtown. “We all love the art gallery and hope it can be saved!” This exact sentiment is what is seen, by many local artists, as the tool utilized to wedge apart an already separated art community. Finances in dismay Inside the gallery, the vice-president of communications, Jamie Gilcig, explained that the board’s mandate was to save the gallery andmake it prosper. “We’re looking ahead,” he exclaimed loudly, as if to muffle the yells coming from outside. “But right now, we have no money. We don’t get funding from the city.” This was the recurring theme in the board’s message to the small group of supporters gathered in the gallery. The two board members also explained that several plans have been hatched for 2016. “We want to branch out next door,” explained Walsh. “We could have small workshops for artists,” added Gilcig. “We want to call it the Annex.” According to Walsh, expenses to keep the gallery opened averages $60,000 yearly. “Themoney needed for rent is made through bingo,” he explained. “But I’m tired of being at the bingo,” replied Gilcig. “I’m spending 30 to 40 hours a
month in a bingo hall. We need volunteers.” Yet a decision by council put a stop to dreams of growing projects, for TAGwasn’t approved for taxpayer funding. In all, the art gallery had requested $85,000 from taxpayers and city council, Walsh citing
director and staff. Four years later, the Gallery officiallymoved into its 1,900-square feet rental space, located at 168 Pitt Street, which provided more space for a growing membership and audience, and was generously sponsored by the City of Cornwall for the past 32 years. The Gallery is
cultural activities are increasingly recognized as economic drivers, and the city’s effort in this sphere may be inadequate to gain the maximum economic and social benefits possible from such activities. A $20,000 feasibility study had therefore been approved in the 2014 budget. Themultidisciplinary art facility’s creation would go hand in hand with the city’s official 2004 Plan, which highlights the need for an inclusivemultidisciplinary arts and culture centre in Cornwall. “In order to achieve important tourism development goals, it will be the intention of the City to encourage appropriate cultural facilities in Cornwall and consider the possibility of a cultural centre combining uses such as an art gallery, a theatre, an arts and crafts centre, amuseum, a conservatory and town hall, in one building or on one site,” states the plan. Similar arts and culture centres located in adjacent cities, such as Brockville and Kingston, were built or restored utilizing millions of taxpayer dollars. In 2009, the Brockville Arts Centre underwent a two-million dollar restoration and re-decoration project. Orleans’ Shenkman Centre cost $36.8 million to build, whereas the Isabel Bader Centre for the performing arts, in Kingston, was built at the tune of $63 million.
the solidification of TAG as reason for the request. Your Arts Council (YAC) and the Aultsville Theater were both approved
“We’re looking ahead,” he exclaimed loudly, as if to muffle the yells coming from outside.
dedicatedtopromoting the understanding, a p p r e c i a t i o n , conservation, and enjoyment of the visual arts in the
for funding. YAC received $43,000 and the Aultsville Theater was the recipient of $97,000. Although the future my look bleak, the vice-president of communications highlighted that 2015 was still a good year for TAG. “We had no litigation and no debt,” he stressed. In addition, the board of directors adopted a new charter that limits board members’ mandates. “We introduced the new charter to make sure nobody can take control of the gallery,” explained Walsh. Opened on Pitt Street for 30 years On June 17, 1982, The Art Gallery (TAG) Cornwall, formerly known as the Cornwall Regional Art Gallery (CRAG), opened its doors in a small rented space located at 107 Pitt Street, and employed a part-time
community of Cornwall, for present and future generations. TAG places emphasis on public arts education programming and multidisciplinary exhibitions programming, and is also the custodian of a Permanent Art Collection of close to six hundred works of Canadian artists. Gallery could bow down to Art Centre But while The Art Gallery has seen its funding slashed to zero, an initiative, launched by the Arts Collective in 2014, could very well see the construction of a Cornwall Art Centre. “Cornwall has generously supported artistic activities, over the years, through themechanismof outside agency grants and in-house through the Leisure Arts municipal programs,” states a resolution presented to council in 2014. In recent years, artistic and
L’affaire Charlotte une pièce de Nicol Labelle
Mise en scène par Mario Sarda
assité de Chantal Quesnel
présentée par le théâtre de
aux Dream Builder Studios, 2107, rue Second O., Cornwall à 19h30 les 19, 20, 25 et 26 février 2016 et à 14h les 21 et 27 février 2016 Billets 15$ Réservations : 613-551-5950 ou au 610, avenue McConnell, Cornwall
Patricipation spéciale de Capucine Péchenart et Nicolas Doyon à l’animation musicale.
www.lamalgame.org
The Journal Cornwall
5
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
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