NORTH BATTLEFORD - There is interest in seeing the building that currently houses the Allen Sapp Gallery receive a provincial heritage property designation in the near future.
At their meeting Monday night, council members heard from Bruce Dawson of the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport, who invited the city to apply to the province for a provincial heritage property designation.
The Allen Sapp Gallery building was constructed in 1916 on a grant from the Carnegie Foundation, and for years was originally the city’s public library. After a new library was constructed, the original building was transformed into a gallery to showcase the work of Indigenous artist Allen Sapp, where it remains to this day.
The building is already designated as a Municipal Heritage Property by the city, but a provincial designation would go a step further. Dawson explained the goal is to commemorate and protect important elements of the province’s history. Only 56 properties in the province have this provincial designation.
Dawson said the ministry was interested in the Allen Sapp Gallery property for a number of reasons, one of which was the Ministry’s desire to address gaps in its current collection of provincial designated properties, especially those related to arts and culture.
The influence of industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in the granting and design of the library was one factor that drew the province's interest; also cited was the long association with the nationally-renowned artist Allen Sapp.
The provincial designation would come with recognition including a plaque and the ability to market the property as a provincial heritage property, but there are regulatory requirements as well impacting such items as proposed alterations of the property.
Dawson did not see any major issues in meeting those requirements, as the building is already maintained as a heritage property by the city.
“You are managing it as a heritage resource, you’re taking care of it,” said Dawson. “You guys are already down that path so I see very few challenges we would have.”
The next step for the city would be to begin the process of making the application for the Allen Sapp Gallery building to receive that provincial designation. City Manager Randy Patrick indicated admininistration will bring back a recommendation on a resolution to a future council meeting, likely next month.
