A commentary on behalf of the Friends of Centennial Square.
The City of Victoria has long had a public arts policy. This policy, created in 1993, was updated as recently as May 2018.
This document states: “The City of Victoria promotes the creation and inclusion of artworks in its public buildings and spaces through the Art in Public Places Policy” and “Art in public places is a vital ingredient in the cultural fabric and streetscape of a creative city.”
The city participates with the Capital Regional District in maintaining a list of significant public art. There is an inspiring list of about 65 public art works in Victoria. Of these, 17 are in or around Centennial Square.
The list of public art works has, as its oldest piece of public art, The Ceramic Fins of Centennial Square Fountain.
Created in 1964 by Jack Wilkinson, a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, the Ceramic Fins of Centennial Square Fountain were commissioned by the surrounding municipalities of Saanich, Oak Bay, and Esquimalt in commemoration of the centennial of the founding of the city of Victoria in 1862.
This was a gift to the city of Victoria.
For 59 years the Ceramic Fins, the Fountain and the surrounding tiara have stood as the focal point of Centennial Square. For 59 years we have had music, dancing, folk fests, culture days, Pan Am Games and Olympic celebrations.
There have been ceremonial visits by the Governor General and Queen. On any day you can go to Centennial Square and have a game of ping-pong or chess.
Now, as the main element of a “Centennial Square Revitalization,” the city is calling for “replacing the existing pool, monoliths and concrete tiara with an interactive water feature.”
Demolish a work of art?
What does this say about the City of Victoria?
What does this say about the importance of art in public places?
The replacement of the Centennial Fountain needs a political revisit.
