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1. Where is the new Gallery going to be located?
In the fall of 2009, the County of Lambton purchased the former Thom Building (Sak's Building) and John Howard Society Building at the corner of Christina and Lochiel Streets in Downtown Sarnia for the new Art Gallery of Lambton. The CIBC, which is located next door, has agreed to a long-term lease at minimal costs to allow the County to use the second floor of their adjoining building for additional space.
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2. How is the construction project going, and what work exactly is happening on site?
The façade of the Thom building was preserved, leaving just the outer shell of the building. The interior of the Thom and the John Howard Buildings were demolished over the summer of 2010 and new construction started in September 2010. The new construction work is taking place inside the old exterior shell of the building that remains. A blog is documenting the construction project with some outstanding photos and narrative comments. Access OnSite (www.gallerylambton-onsite.blogspot.com) to see the project move forward.
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3. When will the construction project be complete, and when does the new art gallery open?
The County of Lambton is obligated to meet federal funding commitments by March 31, 2011. This means that a great deal of work will be complete on the facility by this date. However, to ensure the gallery is prepared operationally for its new space, and to meet requirements set out as a Category A art gallery, a number of steps must be taken to prepare the building before it is opened for public use. It has always been the hope that the gallery could open in 2011 to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the opening date is now set for late Summer 2012.
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4. How much is the new art gallery going to cost?
The complete and total cost of the project is $9.1 million. However, it's important to realize that this figure includes many other items that are part of the project. For instance:
*The cost of the construction of the building is $5.6 million plus a 10% contingency which is $6,160,000. That figure represents building construction cost only.
*The cost of the specialized equipment/fixtures is $1,525,721 which includes a 15% contingency.
*The cost of transition/project management/fundraising is $872,000 (including everything from managing the two sites, the physical move itself, etc.).
*A permanent collection endowment of $500,000 is also included, which will be used to care for and enhance the collection, which is required for a Category A gallery.
It's also important to remember that an art gallery is a specialized building. As a Category A art gallery, the new Art Gallery of Lambton has the privilege to collect and show significant works of art that have been identified by the Canadian Government as important pieces of Canadian Cultural property. In order to achieve this honour, the Gallery is required to meet a variety of strict building and operational standards which include high level environmental, lighting and security controls. In order to achieve these standards the facility will require highly specialized mechanical systems and the building envelope will require specialized treatment as well.
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5. What kind of exhibits will be in the new gallery? Will we see a big change from the current exhibits or a change in the size of the space?
In total, the size of the new Gallery will be 18,400 square feet and this will meet all of the Gallery's needs and help solve many problems it has experienced in the past such as: lack of visibility, limited and inadequate exhibition and programming space, issues surrounding climate control, insufficient & inadequate storage space and inadequate administration areas.
The gallery remains committed to offering a broad range of high level contemporary and historical, traditional and avant-garde exhibitions to the community. The gallery is excited that the new space positions us to borrow work and exhibitions from some of Canada's leading art institutions, something we are currently unable to do.
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6. Will the costs of running the gallery increase with this new, larger space?
The County of Lambton provides an annual operating budget of $634,010 to Gallery Lambton. The operating costs of the new gallery will increase given the increase in size, operations and enhanced exhibitions. These additional funds will come from a combination of revenue generating opportunities such as facility rental, an annual gifting fund and planned giving program to which local residents and corporations may subscribe, special endowments and government cultural grants and/or an increased municipal levy.
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7. How many pieces are in Gallery Lambton's collection and what is it worth? Will the permanent collection, including pieces from the Group of Seven, be on display constantly in the new building, since you will have more space?
Gallery Lambton has a collection of 1100 works of art. The collection is priceless to our community, especially to those original members of the Sarnia Women's Conservation Art Association who donated the first 26 pieces by members of the Group of Seven and their contemporaries. However, in 2006 the collection was valued at $12.8 million. It is anticipated that the collection will be re-appraised when it moves to the new Gallery.
There will be a designated gallery space to showcase work from our permanent collection at all times. No work from the permanent collection will be up permanently in the gallery spaces however there are programming strategies under development that will give the public more access to the work in our collection including a regular 'behind the scenes' program and a virtual exhibition presence.
There are a number of reasons why it is not a good idea to permanently display pieces of the collection. Extended exposure to the elements including temperature, humidity, light and pollutants, even in a controlled environment, shortens the life span of the art. Second, there are over 1000 works in the collection that have been acquired for the people of Lambton County. These works were acquired because of their importance in the story of Canadian art and we are obligated to tell their story as well. Third, if work is always available, even work by the Group of Seven, it becomes ‘invisible’ over time.
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8. What is special about Gallery Lambton that makes it different from art galleries in other locations?
The gallery's programming is based on the cultural dynamics of our community within the framework of the larger (provincial & national) arts community. Encompassing a wide range of art forms and art practices, from performance and video art to traditional media like painting, photography and contemporary ceramics, our programming builds audience and offers opportunities for artistic and curatorial development at both the local and national level. An exploratory attitude together with a desire and capacity to be immediately responsive to our community is what sets us apart.
By providing the opportunity for artists to develop new works specifically for our gallery our programming contributes to the field of visual art practice. Additionally, we have commissioned emerging curators to work with the gallery curator in the development of new exhibitions specifically for our gallery. In this way Gallery Lambton is beginning to contribute to the academic research on Canadian art.
The programming is directly connected to the pulse of the community. By re-imagining how art can be presented and by exploring what constitutes visual art and culture, the gallery's programming challenges and extends the traditional narratives of visual art within our community through contemporary and historical programming. By having the flexibility to be responsive to the community, we are able to develop programming that resonates in the moment, for example the Connecting to Collections exhibitions in response to the confusion around the role of the public gallery as it relates to the way it works with their permanent collection.
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9. How many people use or visit the Gallery, and will there be enough parking at the new art gallery?
Currently, visitor attendance is approximately 20,000/year. This reflects a considerable increase in the past two years (20% each year) due to a renewed artistic vision which has resulted in an exhibition program that is more relevant to our community and more dynamic ancillary programming. After a surge in the first few years once the new Gallery is opened (where attendance could easily be double this number as a result of the novelty and curiosity effect) attendance is expected to settle into a new norm of approximately 25,000 visits annually. This is a conservative estimate based on attendance at public art galleries in similar communities.
County of Lambton staff consulted with City of Sarnia staff to talk specifically about available parking in the area. There are 510 free parking spaces and 24 free handicapped spaces available in the immediate vicinity of the new gallery. In surrounding parking lots there are an additional 673 regular and 12 handicapped parking spaces.
In very short order, we are seeing the downtown core becoming what is known as a cultural cluster. As a cluster, one finds that similar and complementary businesses operate within a short distance of one another. When this occurs, visitors to the area tend to stroll throughout the cluster, or district, looking at the various amenities and the need for immediate parking directly outside of a facility is reduced. For instance, someone who visits an afternoon exhibit at the gallery is likely to also visit neighbouring shops or eateries taking in a larger area in the downtown. Walking and strolling through the cluster to discover its offerings is natural and anticipated.
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10. In light of the difficult economy, why is it a priority to spend taxpayers' money on cultural projects?
The funds that have been allocated for the project to date ($3 million from the federal government and $2.6 from the County of Lambton) come at no additional cost to taxpayers.
The 'Investing in Ontario Infrastructure Grant' provided $3.3 million that had to be spent on infrastructure. The County of Lambton used $1.1 million for the new Art Gallery of Lambton, along with $680,000 for roads, $470,000 to upgrade elevators in social housing units, and $1 to prepare the site for Maxwell Park Place, the County's newest affordable housing building. The remaining $1.5 million include funds that will be realized through lease hold savings over a 20 year period. These are dollars that are already designated to the gallery and cannot be allocated elsewhere.
The federal government's Economic Stimulus Program which has been set up to stimulate our difficult economy, recognizes Cultural Infrastructure as critical to the overall economic recovery of our country. The federal government in Ottawa awarded the County of Lambton $3 million in funding through the Department of Canadian Heritage's Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. This money is set aside specifically for cultural projects, such as the construction of a new art gallery.
Because this funding is part of the stimulus program, there are tight timelines connected to its spending. One third of the three million must be spent by March 31, 2010 the remainder by March 31, 2011, Therefore, the timing is right to move forward on this cultural project. Without this significant federal funding, the project just simply could not be completed. If this $3 million is not spent in Lambton County on this project, it will be spent elsewhere in Canada for a similar Cultural infrastructure project.
In addition to all of these financial reasons, it is important for all communities to invest in culture. First, investing in cultural projects provides cultural and social opportunities to residents living in Lambton County. This creates a healthy and balanced community. Secondly, investing in cultural projects provides an economic benefit.
Tourism will be a primary source of economic stimulation for Lambton County in the future. It is currently our third largest industry. Located close to the waterfront, shops and restaurants, the new Art Gallery of Lambton will be a major draw in bringing cultural tourists and the accompanying economic benefits into the Lambton community. The Tourism Regional Economic Impact Model (TREIM) was used to assess the economic impacts of this project at both regional and provincial levels. It has shown that the new gallery will have a positive economic impact on Lambton County.
Cultural infrastructure contributes to the enhanced level and type of quality of life in the community that in turn attracts the creative thinkers. These people invest in and start businesses, therefore generating jobs.
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11. How does an art gallery help stimulate the local economy?
There could be many economic 'spin-offs' as a result of constructing a new art gallery. Here are just a few:
- Restaurants, bars & hotels (tourism & visiting artists)
- Surrounding shops and boutiques (tourism)
- Printing & design (catalogues, posters, invitations, etc)
- Shipping companies (art)
- Fees to artists, instructors, lecturers
- Internet technicians (pod casts, on line exhibitions etc)
- Videographers (pod casts, documentation etc)
- Caterers for openings, other receptions & functions
- Musicians for openings, other receptions & functions
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12. How long has this community investment project been in the making?
This project actually started long ago in 2000. An advisory committee, made up of members from the general public, artistic, business and political community was put in place to support the gallery and in 2002, launched a strategic planning process focused on determining the level of commitment in the community for a public art gallery.
The strategic planning process determined that there was a high level of support and a clear desire to see the gallery re-claim a position of vitality in the region through the offering of a dynamic program of visual art and culture. There was unanimous recognition that, should the gallery re-claim this position, the gallery would need to relocate to a site that would offer increased access to the visual arts and where it could stand as a locus for a creative community re-vitalization.
Since 2007 the gallery has experienced a 75% increase in audience participation as well as a 57% increase in the number of exhibitions presented through the utilization of off-site locations and the front reception spaces.
With Lambton County Council's approval, Gallery Lambton commissioned a study, "Gallery Lambton Expansion Planning Study" to evaluate the potential for a new and improved Gallery in order to better meet the needs of County residents and future visitors. The study included a business plan, the basics of a fundraising plan and examined possible locations. It also solicited information from the public through interviews, focus groups and a public meeting. The needs of the gallery were also identified. This report was presented to Lambton County Council on February 18, 2009. At that time, Lambton County Council directed staff to undertake a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to determine potential sites for a new gallery.
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13.The capital fundraising campaign aims to raise $3.5 million from the community. How is that proceeding, and what types of fundraising events are being held? How can people become involved?
The new Art Gallery of Lambton has set a fundraising goal of $3.5 million, and in October 2010, the first 50 lead donors were celebrated and thanked for their contributions which have totalled nearly $1 million. Currently, discussions are taking place with industries, businesses, service clubs and friends of the Gallery to determine how they can help the community invest in this important project. It is anticipated that in the summer of 2011, a community campaign will begin, when members of the public are asked to contribute financially, or participate in a number of social events that may potentially take place, such as golf tournaments, art auctions, or other gala events. A fundraising consultant initially helped staff set up the necessary infrastructure to undertake a successful fundraising campaign. Now, staff at Gallery Lambton will follow through with that work. Individuals interested in contributing financially to the project, are asked to contact Kirsten Kilner Holmes, Development Office, at 519 336-8127 ext. 25 or Lisa Daniels, Curator at 519 336-8127 ext. 24.
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14. Are the floor plans complete, and where can we see what the new Art Gallery will look like?
The floor plans are complete, and were released at a public meeting, and during a meeting of Lambton County Council in 2010. The floor plan is on display at Gallery Lambton in the Bayside Centre, or they can be accessed online at www.artgallerylambton.ca. A final drawing is not yet complete, but will be unveiled as soon as it is available. The new Art Gallery will incorporate the existing tower at the corner of Christina and Lochiel Streets, but a third storey will be added to the existing structure.
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15. What new features in the building have resulted in more space? For instance, are there more galleries, or are they just larger?
The current gallery occupies 7, 800 sq. ft. and the new Art Gallery of Lambton will be 18, 400 sq. ft. It will feature three exhibition galleries and an exhibition hall representing 4, 249 sq. ft., (an increase from our current 2,792 sq. ft.). Administration space, which will include a community volunteer workspace and a staff lunch room, will occupy the second floor of the CIBC building and total 1, 675 sq ft. Education space will include an art studio, lecture theatre, conference room and research library and will total 2,035 sq ft. At our current location we have no shipping/receiving, acclamation or storage space but in the new gallery we will have a total of 1,633 sq. ft. Collection storage and work space will total 2,263 sq.ft. The remainder of the space includes a range of public spaces like the reception area, washrooms, freight and passenger elevators, janitorial rooms, catering kitchen, IT rooms and the mechanical room.
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