To the editor: Re: "Vancouver is overdue for a purpose-built art museum," March 13.
Fiona Hughes's assertion that "Everyone agrees. the Vancouver Art gallery needs to be relocated to a much larger building." is a stretch to say the least.
The present version of the gallery is ideally placed at the heart of the city and is a handsome structure, already paid for and of ample size to display the cream of the collection.
The notion of spending big money on a new building is ill advised in these tough economically
uncertain times. Besides, the vast
majority of people can and will observe Vancouver's art online or daily in the streets (if we can get some decent pieces out there). Vancouver is an adolescent city.
First we solve transit woes, offer a wide variety of adequate housing, move toward solar-powered government and residential buildings, process our own waste, foster local manufacturing and build good jobs. Perhaps in 50 years we can address housing and maintaining an art collection anew with private money.
I wonder what "pieces of art" could be sold off immediately decreasing inventory to the point where additional art gallery space would never be required? Certainly, it is clear that no tax payers' money should be squandered now on an unnecessary new purpose-built physical plant.
Paul Baumann, Vancouver
