Suspending Calgary's public art policy during economic slump slammed by Nenshi

Mayor Naheed Nenshi is blasting a councillor's idea that Calgary's public art policy should be suspended this year because of the economic downturn.

"There's a lot of people really hurting out in the community. There's a lot of challenges and there's a lot of nervousness out in the community about what's going to happen with the economy," he said. "And I'm not comfortable with using that nervousness as an excuse to go after a program that really it has nothing to do with."

Ward 14 Coun. Peter Demong plans to present a motion on Monday, saying “it behooves us as the city to show our citizens some restraint in how we allocate scarce resources in times of economic stress.”

The current policy commits the city to spending one per cent of the value of its capital projects on public art.

Last May the policy was adjusted so that only half a per cent of projects worth over $50 million goes toward art, and no installation exceeds $4 million.

Demong wants administration to make recommendations for other projects that could be funded with the money saved by shelving art projects. 

Coun. Brian Pincott says he is tired of councillors going after public art funding.

“They just don't like it. It's as simple as that. And they want to kill it,” he said.

Controversial pieces

“And I wish they were honest about that and would say ‘we don't like it and want to kill it’ as opposed to saying 'tough economic times."

The current policy has resulted in some controversial pieces, such as the $470,000 blue ring at Deerfoot Trail and 96th Avenue N.E. called Travelling Light by the Berlin-based group Inges Idee.

As of 2014, the policy has been responsible for nearly 50 other major public art installations. 

Demong estimates his motion would save anywhere from $2-4 million.

But Calgary artist and ACAD instructor Dick Averns says suspending public art expenditures would be a huge step backwards. 

"Public art without a doubt is a creative representation of the people that live in a city,” he said.