TAMRMS#: B06
7.1
REQUEST FOR DECISION
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Arts Development Advisory Committee Recommendation - St. Albert the Great Statue
Presented by: Emily Baker, Chair, Arts Development Advisory Committee
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RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
recommendation
That $30,000.00 be withdrawn from the Public Art Reserve for the replacement of the stolen St. Albert the Great Statue.
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SUMMARY
The report is being brought forward to Council as a result of a recommendation from the Arts Development Advisory Committee meeting on September 11, 2024.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
N/A
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The St. Albert the Great statue was stolen in March of 2023. The sculpture was donated to the City by the Continuous Learning Community Society (CLC) in 2001. In June of 2023, the Arts Development Advisory Committee (ADAC) decided to move forward with funding a new sculpture of St. Albert the Great that relates to the previous version. The new sculpture would be created by the original artist, Al Henderson.
Administration provided ADAC a recommendation to move forward with a smaller scale work estimated at $40,000 (which will include the base). The work is insured for $17,000.00, and the additional $30,000 from the reserve enables work to proceed with a reproduction.
Exterior locations for this work are not recommended due to the increased security risks associated with the high value of bronze on the black market and the rise in thefts over the past year in the region. Administration has identified a secure location within the front lobby of St Albert Place where the replacement sculpture can be placed. This area ensures high visibility, enhancing public appreciation, while security measures, such as existing surveillance cameras and controlled access, will mitigate the risk of theft and vandalism. Existing public artworks that are currently in the lobby will be moved to alternate locations within the building, allowing the public ...
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