An ambitious plan for a new Tom Thomson Art Gallery in Owen Sound was presented at a public meeting in the city.
First, the plan is to incorporate the gallery as a separate entity from the city. That would open up up a wide range of grants not available as a city facility. And second, the transition committee has decided the ideal site for a new gallery would be in the old court house building, erected in 1853.
Committee chair Michael Warren says it would be a marriage of art and history.
"That courthouse is probably the most important heritage building we have in the city. So if we're going to build a new visual art gallery and bring the two together what we have is something we can market all over Ontario and beyond," says Warren.
It's now up to Owen Sound city council to decide if they'll turn over the old court house for the gallery's use. Council also has to decide if they'll allow the incorporation of the gallery as a separate entity from the city.
It's estimated a new Tom Thomson Art Gallery would cost $10.5-million.