Remember when this story hit the news in 2022?
Days later, City Administration changed the scope of the public art from a single art installation to three separate art installations. So what is the status now?
According to the Public Art Advisory Committee, plastic was shipped to Calgary to create three rocks. Their locations will be at the Material Recovery Centre (landfill), the Forestry Farm and Diefenbaker Park (November 2023 document). At their June meeting, it was noted “The transportation of the artwork from Calgary may pose a challenge.”
This whole situation could have been avoided if City Administration had not made an arbitrary determination that public art was required for this project. According to Policy C10-025 – Public Art, how does this even fall into any of these designated civic capital projects:
- New libraries, community centres, and recreation and sport facilities;
- Major street rehabilitation/streetscape improvements;
- New bridges, bridge replacements, and interchanges; and
- New public spaces such as village squares developed by Saskatoon Land Division.
City Administration is not being properly overseen. Too many times there are “determinations” or “interpretations” that go against bylaws or policies. They must be held to account. I will ensure that.