Mendelog

Dear friend:

The Mendel needs your help!

The Federal government is poised to make important decisions with respect to investment in infrastructure as part of its economic stimulus package. The Mendel is seeking $ 7.1 Million from the Federal Government. The Mendel Art Gallery invites you to support the gallery’s renovation and expansion initiative by sending an email to your local Member of Parliament within the next 24 hours. It is critically important that the government hear from you how essential this investment in the Gallery is for our community, at this time.

We understand that the City of Saskatoon has included the Mendel project on its list of priorities for the Canada Builds program. Also, the Gallery has recently learned through Kindrachuk Agrey, the project architects, that this project can be tender ready by March of this year! Once the Gallery has achieved approval from the City to proceed with the project, the Mendel will make arrangements for an interim location to maintain an effective presence and assure service to our community during the construction period.

Your email letter of support might include elements of the text below.

The Mendel Art Gallery in Saskatoon has served this growing and vibrant community of 230,000 for nearly 45 years. Its founder Mr. Fred Mendel, a businessman and community leader, envisioned a dynamic community where the arts contributed to the quality of life and economic prosperity of Saskatoon and by extension the province. Annually the gallery is visited by 160,000, has achieved a national reputation for programming excellence and remains a source of civic pride! This vision remains relevant today and the Mendel is poised to enrich its commitment to service to community through a rejuvenation and expansion of its ageing physical infrastructure. Planning for this transformation has been underway for over 5 years and is estimated to be a $ 25 Million infrastructure project. The early investment of $ 500,000 from the Federal Government enabled the Gallery to complete its environmental assessment, as well as proceed with the architectural design. Thus far, this rejuvenation project has attracted $ 4.6 Million from the City of Saskatoon, $ 4.1 Million from the Province of Saskatchewan and $ 1 Million thus far from the private sector, even before a formal public campaign has been initiated. In addition, the City of Saskatoon has pledged to enhance its annual contribution to offset increased operating expenses resulting from the expansion.

The Mendel is seeking $ 7.1 Million from the Federal government for completion of this project. Federal government funding is essential to the success of this project both in terms of the funds themselves and as a necessary prerequisite to the success of the Mendel’s fund raising efforts by providing the momentum to leverage private sector support. The Mendel Art Gallery’s transformation is “shovel ready” and can serve as an effective beacon signaling the gallery’s commitment to this place and its contribution to our fabric.

Please send your email to the following Members of Parliament within the next 24 hours.

Kelly Block, MP, Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar – Block.K@parl.gc.ca

Bradley Trost, MP, Saskatoon-Humboldt – Trost.B@parl.gc.ca

Maurice Vellacott, MP, Saskatoon-Wanuskewin – Vellacott.M@parl.gc.ca

Hon. Lynne Yelich, MP, Blackstrap – Yelich.L@parl.gc.ca

We appreciate you taking the time to demonstrate your support for the Mendel Art Gallery.

Dr. Art Knight
Chair, Board of Trustees

Vincent J. Varga
Executive Director and CEO