The society that oversees the Station House Gallery and Gift Shop wants the building to move.
That’s the message of gallery manager Diane Toop and Station House Studio and Gallery Society president Bev Pemberton.
“It’s the Station House Gallery’s desire to move,” Toop confirms.
Although both she and Pemberton appreciate the historic value of the current location, they see the writing on the wall and say if the gallery remains in place it will likely be forced to close.
“We want to move out of this hole to where people see us and notice us, and it would be great to be a part of the environment up there,” Toop says of the prospect of being situated near the museum and arts centre. The hope is that increased foot traffic and a larger role played by the City in the building’s maintenance could change the gallery’s future.
The gallery, run by the non-profit society, currently operates on a budget of $65,000 a year.
Up until recently it received $23,000 from gaming but that money has disappeared. The gallery’s net sales in the shop are $18,000; they receive $4,500 from the City and the rest comes from corporate sponsorship and local donors.
While funds decrease, building maintenance and upkeep costs increase.
“The building upkeep, we’re not able to do it. It’s becoming worse and worse,” Toop says. “We can not keep up with the building upkeep.”
Despite the desire to move, Toop remains sentimental about the current location.
“We would miss it too where we are. We’re just not in it for the cash and get out of here. We know if something doesn’t happen the gallery will close and the building will sit here.”
The demise of the B.C. Rail passenger train in 2004 proved troublesome for the gallery as it resulted in less foot traffic; it also left the society, which shared the building space, responsible for the aging structure’s maintenance. B.C. Rail had previously financed that.
The society leases the building from B.C. Rail; however, the rail company is attempting to divest its properties.
The society’s mandate is to preserve the building and provide a space for regional artists and artisans to sell their work year round.
If the gallery goes under, Toop says, the public would experience a huge loss.
“Every community needs a place to go and see beautiful things that make them think.”
Also lost would be the art classes run in the gallery and tours.
Last week city council approved a plan to apply for funding to address the future of the Station House Gallery.
Applying to the Towns of Tomorrow program, the City committed to cover up to 25 per cent of the cost of the $375,000 grant subject to City budget approval.
If the grant is approved, council will have to determine whether and how to proceed.
The City’s chief administrative officer Brian Carruthers said moving the building would address structural deficiencies, improve patronage and address the ongoing viability of the business.