Province waits on giving another $50M for new Vancouver Art Gallery
VANCOUVER — The B.C. government is considering whether to contribute another $50 million to the construction of a new building for the Vancouver Art Gallery.
The extra $50 million would be in addition to $50 million already contributed in 2008 to the $350-million project for a new site on an empty lot across from the Queen Elizabeth Theatre at West Georgia and Cambie.
Lisa Beare, minister of tourism, arts and culture, said in a statement that the art gallery asked for the extra $50 million last year.
“I informed the art gallery board that the government would consider this additional funding based on progress made on raising private funds,” Beare said.
“We know they are working to raise private contributions in order to advance the project.”
In addition to the extra money from the province, the art gallery is also awaiting word on whether it will receive $100 million from Ottawa.
Last year, the art gallery submitted a pre-budget document to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. It requested the money to help build a gallery with 86,000 square feet of exhibition space, double the current size of the gallery on Hornby Street. The new gallery is designed by the Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron.
In April, Infrastructure Canada said it was awaiting “receipt of a project proposal” from the province. Less than a month later, the provincial election led to the Liberals losing their majority and the NDP forming a minority government with the support of the Green Party.
In response to a question about whether the province has sent a project proposal to Ottawa, the Tourism Ministry said the art gallery project will be considered further, “including being put forward for federal infrastructure funding — when it is substantially closer to its private fundraising target.” The art gallery has a goal of raising $100 million from the private sector, and associate director Ann Webb said it had so far raised $43 million.
In a pre-budget document submitted to the federal government, the art gallery estimated that building a new building would create 1,002 jobs, generate tax revenue of $21.5 million annually, and contribute $38 million to the country’s annual gross domestic product. “We are very optimistic about the future,” Webb said in a statement.
Bill Aujla, general manager of real estate and facilities management for the City of Vancouver, said the offer of a 99-year lease for land at 688 Cambie for a new building was dependent on the gallery raising another $150 million: $100 million from the federal government, and $50 million from the provincial government. “At this time, the city does not intend to provide further financial support for the gallery expansion.”