Saskatoon councillors uphold funding for controversial $297,000 art installation

Saskatoon city councillors have voted to maintain a funding policy for public art, rejecting a move to eliminate the stream that has become a point of contention. The decision upholds the requirement for capital projects exceeding $5 million in city funding to allocate up to 1% for public art, capped at $500,000.

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Public art isn’t separate from infrastructure. It’s one of the ways we create public spaces that people recognize, remember, and feel connected to.

The controversy ignited following the unveiling of "Modern Erratics," an art installation featuring three glacier-like sculptures made from recycled plastics, which cost $297,000. Ward 5 Coun. Randy Donauer proposed scrapping the policy, citing concerns over the cost of the recent installation.

However, councillors voted 8-3 against Donauer's motion. Supporters of the policy, including Em Ironstar of the Saskatchewan Arts Alliance, emphasized that public art is integral to creating recognizable and connected public spaces. Tristan Surtees, one of the artists behind "Modern Erratics," explained that the project's cost covered materials and specialized craftsmanship, with minimal profit, and was designed for durability in public settings.

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It’s not off the shelf, it takes craftspeople and expertise to make work that can be enjoyed for many years and to have the durability in life required to exist in public space.

Administrators provided details on the project's funding sources, which included borrowing, city reserves, and a federal-provincial program. Donauer, however, expressed concern that the policy could lead to substantial public art expenditures on future large-scale capital projects, suggesting it could amount to half a million dollars regularly.

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We’ve got some really large capital projects coming and so we’ll be looking at half a million dollars for public art on a regular basis if this continues.