Questions about federal support by Martin Lerner

During the first year of Harper’s Conservative government, John Baird, then federal Treasury Board president, stated that cultural organizations looking for federal funds should first line up private sector backing. More recently, Heritage Minister James Moore said, "Certainly where we want to go as a government is to encourage more private sector donations for arts and culture. . . We've done that with our endowment incentive program where we're matching almost dollar for dollar what the private sector invests." Referring to how many arts organizations rely on governments for 90 per cent of their funding, he stated, "That's dangerous. When times get tough and government budgets get lean, arts and cultural organizations collapse."

The following letter appeared recently in the StarPhoenix:

It's interesting how many people in Saskatoon have never met Fred Mendel but feel qualified to put words in his mouth, saying he would approve moving the Mendel Art Gallery to River Landing.

Read the full letter at the StarPhoenix website

The following letter appeared recently in the StarPhoenix:

All the ills that are described here are simply a continuance of what has become the constant refrain of the inept Mendel management...

Read the full letter at the StarPhoenix website

The following Op-Ed by C.J. Cote appeared recently in the StarPhoenix:

In a recent viewpoint articles, Bart Gazzola and Leslie and Helen Coleman commented about the space inadequacies of the present Mendel Art Gallery to justify the need for a new gallery.

I wonder if these writers had given any thought to the notion that renovation plans to alleviate the site inadequacies and provide for future needs of the current gallery were presented to the city and the Mendel board and approved?

Read the full article on the StarPhoenix website.

The following letter to the editor appeared recently in the StarPhoenix:

The disrespect being shown toward the Mendel Art Gallery and its namesake, Fred Mendel, is disappointing.

I've lived in Saskatoon for 52 years and remember Mendel's generous gift not only of money but priceless paintings from his own collection to help establish the gallery...

Read the full letter on the StarPhoenix website.

Please read the following Op Ed in the StarPhoenix by Chip Mitchell, Grandson of Fred Mendel.

This year marks the 70th anniversary that my grandfather, Fred Mendel, a Jewish refugee barely escaping the Nazi Holocaust, first set foot in Saskatoon and purchased what was a derelict building on 11th Street originally built as The Derby Motor Company during the 1920s. The long-abandoned building was a victim of the worst depression the city, province and world have known.

Read the Full Article on the StarPhoenix website.

The following is a letter submitted to the StarPhoenix.
Published Monday, February 08, 2010

It's sad how the citizens of Saskatoon have treated the Mendel family after years of their generous support. As a taxpayer, I don't think we need the added expense of moving this gallery and I believe that many others share my opinion.

Read the full letter on the StarPhoenix website

Jan. 21, 2010 - StarPhoenix.

The following viewpoint was written by P. Raymond Martineau, a member of the Mendel Art Gallery, in concert with others of like mind.

The Dec. 19 StarPhoenix article, River Landing balancing act, reveals that the proposed Art Gallery of Saskatchewan is destined to become a symbol of compromised principles.

Read the full article at the StarPhoenix website

Joe Kuchta again uncovers more evidence of underhanded dealings in the Mendel Art Gallery fiasco. For the first time Admission will be charged to enter the Mendel! And it turns out the city never asked for federal funding to renovate the Mendel at all, despite saying otherwise in tax forms - evidence that the move was planned all along.

Check it all out at Owls & Roosters