Ottawa, July 7, 2011 – The Financial and Economic Development Committee (FEDCO) for the City of Ottawa has voted in favor of the expansion of the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) in the downtown core, adjacent to Arts Court and its redevelopment. This decision was a long time coming and was reached through collaborative work with the City. After operating under difficult conditions in one of the smallest municipal art galleries in Canada, the OAG is very pleased with the outcome of this report. We are hoping for a unanimous decision by the full City Council on July 13.

• WHAT & WHO: The FEDCO has voted in favor of the OAG Expansion and the Arts Court Redevelopment Projects, pending a final vote from the full City Council. The project will be led by a steering committee with equal representation of the OAG Board, the Arts Court Foundation and City representatives. This will ensure strong leadership, sound and timelydecision making, progress and sustainable development for all parties involved.

• WHEN: The final vote will take place on July 13, by the full City Council at City Hall. The new building would be functional by fall of 2014.

• WHERE: The OAG requires a new building of 30,000 sq. ft net to showcase the Firestone Collection of Canadian Art as well as contemporary art. The new location proposed by the City is in the downtown core, adjacent to the redeveloped Arts Court building.

• WHY: The OAG has been operating under less than ideal conditions for years and has been lobbying for appropriate space and amenities for ten years.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER MUNICIPAL ART GALLERIES IN CANADA

ORGANIZATION                        POPULATION                   SQ. FEET                      CITY FUNDS

Ottawa Art Gallery                      900,000                              12,000                           $351,750

Varley AG, Markham                  300,000                              15,000                           $670,000

Kelowna Art Gallery                   147,739                               15,758                           $457,193

Art Gallery of Kamloops             86,376                                 20,853                          $429,000

Mendel AG, Saskatoon              230,000                               25,000                          $1.9 m

Windsor Art Gallery                    216,473                               60,000                          $450,000

Museum London                        350,000                               70,000                          $1.5 m

Art Gallery of Hamilton              500,000                                88,650                          $1m