Huntsville General Committee approved the staff recommendation to enter into agreement with selected artist, Bryan Faubert for the $50,000 art project for Kent Park, in the October 30, 2024, meeting.

Manager of Recreation, Culture and Heritage, Jacqueline Surette, said that Faubert specializes in metal sculptures and obtained a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Calgary, Alberta, and his family has a cottage on 6 Mile Lake.

According to the staff report, the agreement includes design, fabrication, and installation of permanent artwork at the park, and includes the artist fee, materials, drawings, installation, travel, and insurance.

It adds that $35,000 of the cost will come from the public Art Acquisition Fund, and $15,000 from the Municipal Accommodation Tax Reserve Fund, “and distributed over 2024 and 2025 budgets to reflect project timelines.” The cost doesn’t include ongoing maintenance of the sculptures.

Surette said the payment for the project will be made in installments, with 20% after signing the contract, 30% upon the Town’s satisfaction of the design drawings, 30% upon the site inspection, and 20% upon transferring ownership to the Town.

She added that the artwork will involve strategically placed 2 or 3D sculptures, including flora and fauna, and animals native to the area, “and merging the works into the surroundings, thus transforming the space into a sculpture garden.”

She showed Council images of flowers, a tree trunk, ducks, a moose, wolf, bear and deer as an example of what will be displayed at the park.

According to her report, “The fact that there could be a number of sculptures will make a greater impact and help to animate the entire space as opposed to one sculpture.”

Councillor, Helena Renwick, said “The selection is going to be tremendous, and it really will bring some life and some really excellent energy to Kent Park.”

Councillor, Bob Stone, inquired about whether vandalism and potential repairs have been considered.

Surette advised, “We can’t necessarily deter all vandalism. The material that is used is steel. It is somewhat vandal proof. He will be working with an engineer to try to shore them up as much as possible so that there’s no ability to bend them or anything like that.”

She added that staff can also recommend a graffiti coating be used to make it easier to remove, and that grinding is another option for removal “to preserve them longer.”

Renwick clarified that 20% of the funding resources comes from paintings that have been sold from Partner’s Hall and the Summit Centre, and not from taxpayer money.