The Vancouver Art Gallery hopes the city will donate the old bus depot for its masterpiece, a future $350-million gallery at Georgia and Cambie streets.
But the City of Vancouver is looking at several office towers for the same site, which could pin the new gallery between high-rises.
Gallery chair David Aisenstat said he would prefer the entire city-owned block, and not just space next to a pair of highrise towers.
"Our preference is for the whole site," Aisenstat told The Province Wednesday.
"The reason we were looking for the whole site was really to try and create a really iconic building that pays the due respect to our arts and culture history here in B.C."
The art gallery is now in cramped digs at the old Robson Street courthouse and can only show 300 of its 10,000 works at any one time.
Gallery leaders painted a pretty picture for the city’s business community at a board of trade lunch Wednesday.
Director Kathleen Bartels said the collection, which belongs to the people of the city, includes world-renowned First Nations and photo works, but it’s not hanging.
"When tourists come to Vancouver, they want to see the art that is made here," Bartels said.
The new 330,000-square-foot gallery, which would include dedicated space for B.C. artists, along with lecture halls and a sculpture garden, could be open as soon as 2015.
The gallery has raised $40 million in corporate pledges and got $50 million from the province.
Relocation chair Michael Audain said the money will come from a mix of government and private sources.
"The city will be expected to play a role by donating the site," Audain said.
"If they do that, certainly other levels of government will come on board."
However, Vancouver Coun. Heather Deal said city hall hasn’t received any specific proposals from the gallery.
"They are not the only ones interested in the site," said Deal. "We look forward to getting a proposal from them."
Deal said the city is looking at office towers for the site, or a combination of uses.
Renowned First Nations artist Robert Davidson said he’s excited about the prospective move.
"With all these bright minds behind it, I feel confident that it will happen," Davidson said.
"It sounds like a very good move in a good direction."
Nonetheless, Arthur Erickson, who designed the gallery and Robson Square, thought the gallery should expand underground, rather than move. And several prominent Vancouver architects have said the gallery should stay where it is, in an expanded form.
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