City council voting to maintain public art on public and private property
Welland city council has voted to take inventory of art on public and private property, and develop a funding policy for preservation.
A number of councillors discussed compensation, if needed, to owners of private buildings with public art.
Councillor Bryan Green spoke about the mural lost on a former hotel on Niagara Street, which got many in the community stepping forward to save it. "I would say the biggest challenge we have with our public art, is our murals. The public loves them, they tell an amazing story of Welland, but we don't own them. We don't own the buildings they are on. So, I think our committees need to start looking at how we restore those."
The plan, in conjunction with the Arts and Culture, and Heritage committees, includes a 10-year funding model.
Councillor Graham Speck was in support, and spoke about using tax money on private property.
"How much can we put into policy, and how much is council willing to put in public money to preserve something that is privately owned," he says.
Councillor John Chiocchio was in support, making reference to a mural in the downtown needing some attention.
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