Can we agree on a new Arts & Culture Centre?

The Music Box is one of three former homes re-purposed as arts spaces

Update: April 2023.

On Monday April 24 West Van mayor and council will vote on the Arts Facilities Advisory Committee’s final recommendations, after ordering that it be disbanded (or ‘complete its work’).

Background: Arts & Culture Centre Planning report

History: West Van’s remarkable artistic heritage (EagleHarbour.net)

Please write to mayor and council to move ahead and identify a location and fundraising strategies that meet the well-documented needs for our children, arts community, seniors, and pretty much everyone else.

This article was originally posted in October 2022.

Our municipal government has provided facilities and run arts and culture programs for many years, with approximately 22,500 hours of programming and activities each year.

But much of that is held in old properties that were never intended for their present uses, neither large nor specialized enough to properly showcase works of art, performances, or workshops.

The landmark Ferry Building, which houses a gallery, has undergone a major restoration which included being moved and raised in order to withstand sea-level rises. Most of the $2.5m cost is being covered by the federal and provincial governments.

That leaves the Music Box and Silk Purse, also close to the water, and the Art Museum. We cannot justify expensively restoring these buildings given their inadequacy.

Single Facility

Based on extensive assessments of current and future needs, in consultation with the arts community, West Van Council determined that the existing buildings should be replaced with a single facility.

The Arts Facilities Advisory Committee made detailed assessments of more than 20 options for where to locate a future arts centre, and recommended two sites in Ambleside Park, in keeping with recommendations in West Van’s 2018 Official Community Plan.

When these options were presented to West Van residents, in a 2021 district survey, those rejecting any new arts centre were effective in mobilizing significant opposition.

That survey revealed there was “a general lack of awareness” of the background, and despite assurances that a decision about location hadn’t been made, many residents lacked faith in the engagement, feeling that their questions had gone unanswered. Council voted unanimously for further public engagement, plus clear proposals to develop a governance model and capital funding strategy.

Background: The facts about a replacement West Van arts facility

This work, in 2022, focused on confirming a ‘vision’ for a new building, or in plainer terms, what we want from the facility.

It remains to be seen whether the extensive research, public engagement, and expert involvement will produce recommendations that are acceptable to the new mayor and council.

Positive Voices supports public involvement, based on facts, rather than presumptions or preconceived agendas. Public oversight and input benefits from thoughtful consideration, and respectful feedback, even when there’s disagreement.

Alternative ideas?

Community organizations and aspiring leaders could help inform residents of the facts while making their arguments, and reduce the acrimony that’s built up over this issue.

Perhaps they might even offer alternative solutions to the problems clearly articulated - that we have decrepit facilities, insufficient current capacity, and growing future needs.

And we should also remember to thank all those people in our community who have worked on proposals for new facilities over the years - volunteers on various committees, municipal staff, elected officials, and others.

Absent any evidence to the contrary it is only fair that we assume that they have acted in good faith, and in the broader public interest.

During the 2022 municipal election some people wanted to make the scrapping of the Arts & Culture Centre proposal a key question on which candidates might be judged.

Mercifully most candidates and most residents believe this matter can be resolved rationally, and intemperate campaigning isn’t going to help us agree on anything.