By Pepper Parr
June 9th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Motion for Council to Consider was to receive a presentation from Emma Sankey, Executive Director, Art Gallery of Burlington (AGB) regarding the final report for the Facility Master Plan and Future Needs.
The AGB facility is reaching the end of its life and needs replacing. The building structure and layout was purpose-built as a community center and underwent many renovations to become a public art gallery.
The Art Gallery as it looks today.
The AGB is committed to modernizing its facilities to better serve its audience and become a more relevant cultural destination for Burlington. AGB has now conducted a comprehensive feasibility study and visioning process in consultation with the City of Burlington and stakeholders. The consultants have explored various options for addressing challenges related to institutional and community goals to meet the long-term needs of artists, community members, and stakeholders.
The study is intended to serve as a roadmap outlining short, medium, and long-term strategies to align with existing or future buildings with AGB’s evolving vision; funded in part (40%) by the City of Burlington matching funds for the total cost of ~$250,000.
The Art Gallery is asking Council receive for information the summary outlining the key components of the facility redevelopment strategy:
Same Site Redevelopment:
The plan assumes the redevelopment will occur on the existing AGB site, leveraging its location and accessibility.
New Purpose-Built Gallery Building: Given the conditions of the existing building and site factors (notably the existing sewer trunk line), renovation is not recommended.
A new building is required. Proposed Building Size:
The plan proposes a new facility of approximately 77,000 sq. This would amount to an increase of about 30,000 sq. ft., significantly increasing the capacity for more programs, exhibits, and events while also providing much-needed additional collection storage and processing capacity.
Single-Phase Construction:
The development will proceed in a single construction phase to streamline the process and minimize disruption.
Preserving Craft Maker Studios: The new facility increases the capacity and functionality of the craft studios by increasing the total amount of studio space and offering even greater community access.
What will it cost?
What will it look like?
Architect’s rendering of what a three-storey Art Gallery would look like.
I assume you are talking about the Burlington Art Gallery and not the library?
Either way $116 Million dollars is absurd:to replace the art gallery . First, I have lived in Burlington all of my life and the Art Gallery of Burlington was built as an Art Gallery from its beginning and never a community Centre!
There is no way that Burlington Property Tax Payers can support this expense! Why do they want a new building and why!!?
Only those who have a membership or pay exorbitant fees for their courses can afford to go their and use their facilities.
Why should Burlington Property Tax Payers be forced to pay for this? This is absolutely insane!
And why replace it and not renovate it from all the donors who support it?
Those residents who have no interest in the AGB should not be forced to pay for it!!
Just like all the money that goes to the Burlington Performing Arts Centre through our property taxes is ridiculous!
If these organizations can’t support themselves, they should be shut down IMO.
Burlington residents have other more important things to spend their money on including myself!
Speaking of which, we have not yet heard from our Burlington City Council as to what the tally is for Bateman at this point!! And still not completed!! Seems our Mayor and City Council want to keep this dollar figure under rapps!! And in the dark.
We need far more transparency and information from our COB, which has been totally lacking and very secretive since this Council was elected in October 2018.
The headline of the article very clearly says Art Gallery. No mention of Library !
I do understand the need for a tear down and rebuild of a building which is only erected in 1978. Surely less than 50 years cannot be the expected lifespan of a building. This seems to me more like an AGB wish/want to rather than an absolute necessity because the building is falling down.
Have alternatives being properly investigated? Like building a second floor on top of the current footprints or even two additional floors?
Has the sale of naming rights for the gallery and/or for for the performing arts center been considered?
I disagree with you, Caren, that City funding should not be used and the required money should be raised from members, patrons, direct appeals to residents, of sponsors because only a certain section of our residents use the facility.
You say if organizations like this cannot support themselves, they should shut down. Does that also go for the hockey clubs that use the subsidized arenas, the soccer clubs which use use subsidized City land etc.
You suggest Burlington residents have other more important things to spend their money on. In your opinion what may they be?
Editor’s note: We did make a mistake on the headline – for a short period of time the word library appeared – it was quickly corrected when an embarrassing number of people brought the error toour attention.
Cherry Hall,
Of course Burlington residents have other things to spend their money on! Who are you kidding? If this proposal to rebuild the AGB goes thru our property taxes will go thru the roof! Why should residents support this $116 Million dollar project? When they can spend their money on others things like food for one or a vacation or a project on their own property or put their savings in a bank for a rainy day!! The alternative items to spend money on what residents want are endless!!
I was told last year at the 2025 Budget meetings held by COB in the fall of 2024, that the City would need to save 4 Million dollars in spending to save 1 percent in property tax dollars.
How many dollars would Burlington Property Tax dollars save if we DO Not Approve $116 Million dollars for the redo of the AGB!??
THIS IS A NO BRAINER!!
Many residents are forced to access our Food Banks, support them!
The AGB has nothing exceptional to offer the public in Art. Nothing special and not open to the public who pay for it!!
And I for one, completely oppose this ask and Do Not Support the AGB Rebuild whatsoever.
Caren
Are you sure this isn’t about the AGB? We taxpayers don’t have that coin. Amalgamate with Hamilton please.