Remai Modern gallery opening date still up in the air
Report to city council changes opening date to 'To Be Determined'
The Remai Modern Art Gallery continues to struggle with construction delays, according to a report headed to a Saskatoon city council committee.
In December, the gallery thought it could open its doors to the public in the fall, likely by the end of September. However, latest estimates from the gallery now lists the date as "To be determined."
"We share the frustration of ongoing delays in this construction period," wrote Remai board chair Alain Gaucher in the report.
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Construction delays have plagued the project since it began. In the report, the gallery board lists four revised opening dates since June 2016.
The gallery was originally supposed to open last year.
The Remai Modern has said staff will need eight months to prepare the interior of the building after internal construction is completed. However, that completion date has now moved to mid-March, leading the board to leave the opening date blank right now.
Budget woes
The delay is likely to have financial implications for the gallery.
With the opening date pushed back, the gallery said it would be missing lucrative opportunities for tourism dollars and wedding bookings typically seen in the summer and early autumn.
"For every month the opening is delayed, there is a loss of self-generated revenue, which results in a net negative impact for the gallery," wrote Gaucher.
During budget deliberations in December, city council voted to cut $75,000 from the Remai's operating subsidy of more than $5 million per year.
A delegation from the Remai Modern will be presenting at council's Governance and Priorities meeting at 1 p.m. CST Monday.