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The Art Gallery of Sudbury is temporarily closed to the public following a visual inspection from an engineering firm that identified structural problems to specific exterior areas of the historic mansion.
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According to Laurentian University, which owns the Bell mansion and hired the engineering consultants, structural issues were observed with the chimney on the west side and the exterior south stone wall. The interior staircase is connected to that masonry wall and so it, too, may be structurally compromised.
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The engineering firm provided Laurentian with a letter of recommendation advising limiting access to specific areas of the building out of an abundance of caution. Laurentian shared that recommendation with the AGS on Oct. 6 and it immediately complied and has been closed since then.
The university has erected barriers around the specific areas and has hired experts to further investigate the state of the building.
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Gallery director Demetra Christakos said she wants to assure the public that the collections, exhibitions, education and gift shop spaces and contents remain safe and secure. She said the gallery continues to operate behind the scenes and her team is looking at possible short-term, medium-term and long-term solutions.
Some of the AGS adult weeknight education programs have already been relocated to the Parkside Centre. Alternate locations for other programming, including its popular kids and teen programming on the weekend, are forthcoming, said Christakos.
“We’re just working through it day by day,” she said.
Depending on the final report, it may be possible to open the gift shop and first floor of the gallery, she said.
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Laurentian University officials were not available for an interview, but the interim president and vice chancellor issued a statement.
“The Art Gallery of Sudbury and the Bell Mansion are important fixtures of the Greater Sudbury community and they are also important to Laurentian,” Sheila Embleton said in the statement provided via email.
“We have been in close communication with the leadership at the Art Gallery and we will continue to work closely with them.
“We have hired an engineering firm to evaluate the structural repairs and to understand what will be required in order to safely re-open the building. We are also evaluating options to temporarily house the Art Gallery on campus if it could be viable.
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“We do not anticipate this closure having an impact on our current agreement with the Art Gallery.”
The art gallery has permission to remain in the Bell mansion until May 31, 2025, after which time Laurentian plans to sell the historic building, a decision made during the exit of its insolvency process.
The gallery has been looking to find a new home for years and city council is currently evaluating the costs associated with accommodating the Art Gallery of Sudbury, Greater Sudbury Library Main Branch and Sudbury Multicultural and Folk Arts Association at Tom Davies Square. However, the current estimate for that project to come to fruition – assuming it does – is likely the end of 2026.
The Local Journalism Initiative is made possible through funding from the federal government.
sud.editorial@sunmedia.ca
X: @SudburyStar
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