There are a number of projects that are gathering interest and momentum in Vancouver these days. The work of the City’s Office of Cultural Affairs to develop a Cultural Plan that will not only ensure a Creative City that is healthy for the arts but also for the economy, has engaged an incredible spectrum of stakeholders. The Creative Spacemaking workshop led by Artscape, the world’s leading experts in cuture-led regeneration, was a triggering event for action, which is now made difficult by the economic reality the City is facing.
The decomissioning of an older Park Board property has presented an opportunity that could ensure an interim measure of development while the bigger projects stall. There is a will on the part of the community to save the Mount Pleasant Community Centre building – and its outdoor pool – when the programs move to their new building on September 1, 2009.
The following article appeared in the Georgia Straight on March 12, 2009:
Mount Pleasant arts centre on shaky ground
By Jessica Werb
A battle over daycare facilities at the old Mount Pleasant Community Centre could make or break plans to convert the centre into an arts hub. The idea was first floated in March of last year by then park-board commissioner Spencer Herbert. The community centre is scheduled to move into a new facility at 1 Kingsway in September, after which the old facility (at 16th Avenue and Ontario Street) is to be demolished. A before- and after-school program for students at Simon Fraser Elementary School is currently housed in the building, and will be moved (to view the article online, go to: Arts Centre Article
My response to this item lays out the position proposed by a group of nearly 30 artists and arts organizations who have been meeting to build a strategy for re-purposing the old building. The Park Board will meet tonight to consider a staff report which recommends closing on Sept. 1 and a motion by Commissioner Jasper to keep the building open for the Daycare on an interim basis. Here are my thoughts:
Kudos to Jessica for keeping the community informed on this issue. I want to clarify what might be a misconception raised by the comments about safety. The group of artists and organizations that has been delving into this issue is well aware that necessary renovations may be costly but unless we conduct a proper feasibility study it will simply be opinion, or argument. We are not asking the Park Board to save the building and pay for it, but to allow a moratorium on demolition for at least one year so we can have the work done on which we can base an informed decision to take on the enormity of saving and renovating the building. Or not.
We are well aware that the building is not up to current code, and we can’t be certain just what needs could be served within the building itself. A full feasibility study needs to be done and we are asking for time to do this. We believe we can make a case for funding such a study, with the support of our fellow interest groups the Daycare and the Save the Pool neighbours, and would be happy to find a way to manage the building as a lease from the Park Board to cover the operating costs, if this is possible.
We also know that the Park Board is unwilling to consider any funding to keep the building open beyond September. Our job now is to create a plan that will generate the revenue needed to cover the $200,000 or so it will take for operating and using the building while doing the ‘due diligence’ on behalf of the community of artists and neighbours and other users over the next several months.
Although I do consulting work with arts groups, in this case my interests are unpaid and personal – I am a resident of the area and a passionate advocate for creating a more enabling environment for artists to function and sustain themselves.
How I help is by contributing my time to coordinate the communication with the various interested parties and groups, and help convene meetings with, between and among the stakeholders. And sometimes, clarifying and aggregating information. It is this kind of ‘housework’ that will facilitate the project, but it isn’t the real work of getting the job done. That is ahead of us, and so we welcome others who want to bring their special skills and commitment to this exercise in discovery and community. And development.
For people who are interested in learning more, getting involved, or contributing in any way, particularly to the arts centre interest group, please let us know, either by contacting me directly (jpiggott@sectorcouncil.ca) or the Mount Pleasant Community Association through the Centre office.
