Plan to move art gallery doesn't sit well with donors

Benefactors and volunteers of the Mendel Art Gallery are threatening to pull their finances and support following suggestions by the city to move the gallery to the south downtown. "I've had a number of e-mails and countless phone calls, all of which disapprove of the idea," said Terry Graff, the Mendel's director and CEO.

Eva Mendel Miller, daughter of the gallery's namesake, Fred Mendel, has told Graff the move would be a breach of trust to her father.

Should the gallery be moved, Mendel Miller "will retract a substantial financial gift" she is planning to bequeath, Graff said, noting others have told him they will no longer volunteer their services.

In a letter to Graff, Mendel Miller expresses distaste for the city proposal, saying it has "disturbed" her and "is a betrayal of the city's commitment to my father."

"We have a moral duty not to violate that moral obligation to the spirit, vision and wishes of Fred Mendel," Graff echoed.

The Mendel is in the midst of a fundraising campaign, and Graff is worried donations may dry up if people think the plans have changed, which is not the case.

"There's a lot of passion around the Mendel and obviously, this is quite a shock and surprise and a disruption, to say the least, in our campaign plans and goals."

Last week, city administrators told councillors the gallery was asked to consider moving into River Landing's proposed cultural centre rather than continue with a planned $18-million renovation of its Spadina Crescent facility. The city had planned for the $31.3-million centre to house Persephone Theatre, Tourism Saskatoon, a Joni Mitchell visitor centre and the Meewasin Valley Authority (MVA).

A tourism consultant has been commissioned at a cost of about $20,000 to examine how attractive the centre would be if the Mendel moved into the complex, with the MVA taking over the gallery's present building.

In a report to the city's executive committee, which met Tuesday, city administration says the Mendel board is open to the idea. But Graff said that's misleading. The city approached the Mendel board with the idea "out of left field" on Sept. 27, and a "sudden, short discussion" was held between city officials and Mendel management.

The board heard the city wanted to make a proposal and said it would listen, said Graff.

"That was the extent of it. There was not much to it (the meeting) and there's been nothing since. The Mendel has not received a formal development plan from the City of Saskatoon."

If the Mendel is offered more space than it is currently planning with the renovations, and if that space is to be the Mendel's alone and not shared with other groups, and if the space is on the riverfront, then maybe the Mendel would entertain the idea, Graff said.

Otherwise, the city should forget about it.

"What would the Mendel gain that it doesn't already have? It is already a destination centre (with 160,000 to 200,000 visitors annually). We wouldn't have to move to become one," said Graff.

"Would it be better for us to move or would we just be filling the city's agenda?"

The timing of the city's proposal is also confusing, said Graff. Just last month, city council awarded the contract to develop the Mendel's design plans and documents, and approved spending $978,457.62.

As a result, the Mendel is well into the initial phase of its expansion. It has already begun restoration of the gallery's original skylights and is preparing applications for further funding from other levels of government.

The city's executive committee, which is city councillors meeting in a committee format, discussed a proposal to have tourism consultant David Russell report back in four weeks on whether the Mendel will enhance the south downtown development.

"This is a concept and a suggestion at its very earliest stage," said Chris Dekker, the city's manager of special projects. "We've got Mr. Russell looking into the destination complex (in south downtown) so we're saying, while he's at it, look into it with consideration of the Mendel."

In an interview prior to the meeting, Mayor Don Atchison said it merits a good look "once we've heard from Mr. Russell whether he thinks it's viable or not."

Unlike Graff's phone calls, the response Atchison said he has received from the public since the stories of the proposal were first reported have been supportive of a Mendel move. He's also unapologetic of the matter becoming public at such an early phase and causing so much debate.

"We're being transparent. If we did all of this behind closed doors and then announced a decision, we'd make a lot of people angry. We're not trying to hide anything," he said.

Coun. Gordon Wyant asked when the Mendel's administration would have a chance to speak to the matter. Atchison said the time will come when the report is in. But Wyant expressed concern the city is interfering with the momentum the Mendel has already built up in its renovation plans.

Councillors Donna Birkmaier and Owen Fortosky applauded a Mendel move. Waiting four weeks for a report is too long, suggested Fortosky, who said "we should move on this."

"Boy, I can't believe the positive comments I've had from people who think we're heading down the right track," said Birkmaier.

Graff urged council to seek further opinions from a consultant familiar with the museum sector, rather than just Russell, whose specialty is in tourism.