$100 million in federal funds sought
The Vancouver Art Gallery is asking the federal government for $100 million for its proposed new building in downtown Vancouver.
The money would be for capital costs over the next three years for construction, said Ann Webb, the gallery’s associate director.
“We’ve been working with the federal, provincial and municipal governments on this,” Webb said Friday.
“We remain optimistic that things are going forward, but I can’t be specific right now.”
The $100 million requested is for a new gallery on the lot across from the Queen Elizabeth Theatre at West Georgia and Cambie. The new gallery, designed by the Swiss architectural firm of Herzog & de Meuron, would have 86,000 square feet of exhibition space — double the size of the current gallery at 750 Hornby St.
Although the figure of $100 million for construction costs is contained in a 2017 pre-budget submission to the House of Commons standing committee on finance, Webb said the gallery didn’t expect to see the money mentioned in the recent federal budget.
She said the VAG is among other cultural organizations that have applied for infrastructure funding from the federal government.
“There are ongoing conversations. So far, it has been positive,” she said.
The new gallery would include a 350-seat theatre, 40,000 square feet of outdoor courtyard space for art programming, four studio workshops for students and an art conservation lab.
“We will be shovel-ready and prepared to break ground in late 2017,” the submission to the standing committee said. “We are scheduled to open in 2021.”
The submission said the goal is to raise $350 million for the new gallery: $300 million for construction and $50 million for an endowment.
In 2008, the provincial government contributed $50 million to the VAG for a new building. According to the submission, that money was provided “with an understanding that additional future financial support would be provided once all levels of government have signed onto the project with financial support.”
The City of Vancouver has already contributed the land — two-thirds of a city block valued at $100 million.
The $350 million for a new home for the VAG compares, for example, with the $514 million it cost to put a roof on B.C. Place Stadium.
The VAG’s quiet fundraising campaign has almost $30 million in commitments from the private sector. The goal is $150 million in private money.
Webb, who is responsible for engagement and gallery initiatives such as the fundraising campaign, said for the past six months she’s been encouraged by the support and conversations about building a new gallery.
Before joining the VAG, Webb was managing director of contemporary culture for the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto.
“I have followed the career of Herzog & de Meuron from the early days. I was thrilled to learn that they were chosen to be the architects. I feel that they are among the best architects for museum buildings because they put art and artists first. They work with artists and understand artists,” she said.
“This is the culmination of 30 years of working in arts and culture. I feel that everything I’ve done has led me to this place at this time.”
The submission to the standing committee said the gallery is “bursting at the seams” because of a five-fold increase in membership, and attendance that has almost tripled in the past 15 years.
“The renovated provincial courthouse has served the gallery and the community well over the past 30 years but, faced with an aging, deteriorating and overcrowded facility, the time has come for a new Vancouver Art Gallery,” the submission said.
This is the culmination of 30 years of working in arts and culture. I feel that everything I’ve done has led me to this place at this time.