A bronze sculpture celebrating the history and people of the White Rock train station may soon grace the city's waterfront.
White Rock council is to consider approving up to $80,000 for the project at its next meeting, set for 7 p.m. Monday (May 26) at city hall.
In recommending council endorse the request, the city's director of leisure services Eric Stepura notes that public art "shapes the environment around it."
The proposed sculpture "will not only be a figurative representation of the history of the White Rock train station, one of the oldest and most iconic buildings in White Rock, but will add to the artistic landscape of the city and will be a tourism draw for the waterfront," Stepura writes in a report.
The funding request follows council's March 31 endorsement of a limited call for artists for the work, which is hoped to be installed on the water-side plaza of the White Rock Museum & Archives by fall.
In his report, Stepura notes the sculpture is among projects that were assigned to the public art task force when it formed in January. They are to also initiate a mural and recommend a site for a sculpture garden on city owned land.
The amount requested is based on research into the cost of similar historical bronze sculptures, and includes all anticipated costs – from the artist's fees to insurance and delivery.
Stepura recommends the funds, if approved, come from the community public art project budget. So far this year, $59,950 of the $150,000 available has been spent or committed, leaving $90,050 available for the sculpture, he writes.