The public is being asked to help shape a new waterfront art gallery.
The Thunder Bay Art Gallery is looking to move out of its current 30,000-square foot location near Confederation College and onto Prince Arthur's landing. On Wednesday the gallery held public a meeting, which was closed to the media, to gather input.
"And (find out) what would keep (the public) coming back," executive director Sharon Godwin said.
Rita Komendant, an architect who recently moved to Thunder Bay from Wakefield, Que., said she is on board with the idea of seeing an art gallery on Lake Superior. But it needs to be an international design competition so that people from all over the world will come to see it. She cites the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain as an example.
"Art deserves it," she said.
Komendant said art and architecture aren't top of mind when it comes to the general public.
"It's a lot of money for a lot of abstract thinking," she said.
But people know the good stuff when they see it.
"Good architecture does capture the imagination of everyone."
Godwin said the gallery is looking for grants to help build the new space.
The building would allow for more programming and help display its permanent collections, which are growing all the time.
City council approved the move in principle this past summer. Godwin said a preliminary design is expected sometime next year.
