CORNWALL, Ontario – The Art Gallery – Cornwall is completing an investigation into the goings on of its operation and in the meantime its executive director is on leave.
The Art Gallery – Cornwall (TAG) presented its $70,000 budget request to the city’s budget committee Monday, where board chair Wyatt Walsh said he is in the midst of shining a light on some of the issues plaguing the agency.
“There’s been some problems there, hasn’t there,” said Coun. Claude McIntosh.
Walsh agreed.
“When I came in…there were problems. The art gallery is going to change,” said Walsh, who added he is in the midst of an “investigation” into the TAG issues. “I’m 300 emails in…and I’m catching on to what’s going on. I’ve brought in very good people to be around me.”
But Walsh’s words weren’t enough for the city’s budget committee, which cut the agency’s funding to just $13,500 – the amount it has received so far this year.
Coun. Andre Rivette pointed to the fact that TAG has undergone wholesale changes at the board level, a few times, and there have been questions about executive director Sylvie Lizotte.
“It’s tax dollars. We have to make sure we spend them responsibly. There was a turnover of two boards,” he said. “We have to make sure it was stable.”
Walsh suggested stability is coming.
“If I come here and tell you I will account for every penny of every week – you can depend on that,” he said. “If I say the goal is to have by the end of the year be self-sustaining…that’s what I am going to do.”
Coun. Maurice Dupelle suggested issues with TAG are not new.
“This is my fifth budget year and there’s always been issues surrounding TAG’s budget submission,” he said. “It’s issues that have been there year after year. They’re public dollars and we have to make sure they’re being spent the best way we see fit.”
Walsh suggested the money from city hall will help augment programming this year, which could draw more people into the facility on Pitt Street.
“That art gallery has not had the flow through it…the life to it – it hasn’t been what it should,” he said. “It’s going to take a little time and money for me to do that.”
The city’s budget still needs to be approved by all of city council at a special meeting, but councillors did vote to approve funding for a slew of outside agencies.
OUTSIDE AGENCY FUNDING FOR 2015
Cornwall and Seaway Valley Tourism – $181,144
SD and G Historical society – $111,871
Aultsville Theatre – $97,000
Seaway Senior Citizens Club – $30,000
Centre Charles Emile Claude – $30,000
Centre Culturel de Cornwall – $36,000
Your Arts Council – $12,242
Liftoff – $12,242
Waterfest – $1,000
