Springbank artists with an ambitious goal went before the public services committee Feb. 12 to update council on their three-year plan to open an arts centre on their property.
Harry Kiyooka and Katie Ohe, well-known artists living on 20 acres of land in Springbank, explained to the committee what stage plans are at for the Kiyooka Ohe Arts Centre (KOAC).
The artists began planning for the centre, which will include an interpretive gallery, pavilion, sculpture park and botanical garden, in 2011.
“This is going to be a legacy not only for Springbank but Rocky View County and the province,” said Kiyooka. “This is unique in that it’s the first dedicated contemporary arts facility in Alberta.”
The centre will offer residencies to visiting artists to conduct research and work in studios, a program of exhibitions of contemporary art, workshops and lecture series.
“The centre will be open to the public and managed by a non-profit society,” explained Sue Graham, community services coordinator with Rocky View County.
She said the artists are donating their property and art collection, with an estimated value of $5 to 6 million to the society, as well as providing an annual endowment fund.
This is the second year of the plan. For 2012 and 2013 the society plans to complete development and construction of the wetlands and continue planning of botanic sculpture garden.
Kiyooka reminded council of the stormwater run-off problems they have encountered.
He said their land was purchased in 1973 at a time when there wasn’t a lot of development in the area.
“With the subsequent building, the previous Rocky View administration did not provide us with stormwater discharge (options),” he said, explained ditches and culverts weren’t created and there are flooding issues in the area.
Kiyooka went before the committee during a Oct. 16 public services meeting last year requesting council funds the $200,000 needed for a detailed engineering design, environmental approvals and construction.
The project and funding potential was discussed during the 2012 budget deliberation but did not receive funding support.
During the meeting last week, councillor Lois Habberfield said council “will have to look at it further during budget deliberations,” but thanked the couple for their presentation.
Councillor Margaret Bahcheli echoed Habberfield’s sentiments.
“I am really excited to see an artistic addition to the community … congratulations. This is a wonderful, wonderful thing you are doing,” she said.
Kiyooka, a retired professor of art from the University of Calgary, is an accomplished painter and printmaker and is a founding member of the Calgary Contemporary Art Society and life member of the Alberta Society of Artists.
Ohe is a renowned sculptor and one of the first artists to make abstract sculpture in Alberta.
In 1991, Ohe received the AACAD Alumni Award of Excellence and in 2001 was the recipient of an honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary in recognition of her influence on art in Alberta.
For more information on Ohe or Kiyooka, or to learn more about KOAC, visit koartscentre.org.
