City hall’s public art committee had a busy 2023, with much of its attention focused on handling murals and acquiring artwork that honoured several cultures.
Jennifer McRorie, committee chairwoman, spoke to city council on Nov. 29 during its first 2024 budget meeting, which dealt with funding requests from third-party organizations.
The public art committee is asking for $12,000 next year, which is $2,000 more than this year. It expects to have total revenues of $42,986, which includes $30,986 in carry-forward money from previous years.
McRorie offered several highlights of the committee’s activities this year, including:
- Installing the metal bison sculpture from artist Bill Keen at the Tourism Moose Jaw office in July
- Receiving a proposal for a new mural honouring the Robin Hood Mills factory
- Determining what to do with the Stormin’ Main Street Mural at 44 Fairford Street West after new owners bought the building
- Accepted a proposal from the Downtown Moose Jaw Association to install a Keen-created metal sunflower sculpture honouring Ukrainians in Crescent Park
- Agreed to let high school students install murals at the Old Public Comfort Station in Crescent Park to combat graffiti
- Approved a recommendation to let A.E. Peacock Collegiate’s Gay Straight Alliance paint a rainbow crosswalk artwork near the school
- Agreed to expand the downtown walking art tour by letting an artist paint 37 pieces of municipal-owned benches, electrical boxes and garbage cans
- Accepted a proposal to install a Red River cart at the Tourism Moose Jaw office to honour the Metis culture
- Provided $2,217.87 to the police service and Project 104 High School Arts Collective to enhance an artwork at 104 Ominica Street West
- Approved artist Grant McLaughlin’s summer maintenance plan to refurbish four murals
- Discussed locations for metal art sculptures from the art gallery’s collection
- Talked about re-creating a new National Light and Power Co. Mural after the previous one at 821 Main Street North was painted over
- Continued discussing a possible location for the Chinese mural from 240 High Street West that was removed in 2019
- Considered creating a mural reflecting Moose Jaw’s Aboriginal history
- Heard from city administration about using an interactive GPS-type map to enhance the murals’ locations
McRorie noted that some of the committee’s objectives for 2024 include:
- Exploring a mural that reflects Moose Jaw’s Aboriginal history with a First Nation artist leading the project
- Completing an inventory of all public art
- Identifying and completing repairs to the city’s public art inventory, including murals
- Auditing all mural agreements to determine which have expired and require renewal
- Reviewing how to promote and educate the public about the community’s art collection
- Developing and implementing a public art interactive map in partnership with city hall
- Finding a new location for the Chinese mural
- Developing a list of opportunities and locations for new art
- Reviewing the public art policy to ensure it meets priorities and objectives
Mayor Clive Tolley said that he’s always thinking of ways to acquire money from higher levels of government to support projects. He thought installing a statue of hockey player Clark Gillies in front of the Events Centre might attract donations, considering someone told him they would give $10,000 for such a project.
McRorie replied that if anyone wants to donate to the committee or form partnerships, they can contact her or the parks and recreation department.
The next budget meeting is Wednesday, Dec. 6.
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