SASKATOON.- His Worship Mayor Donald Atchison and Dr. Art Knight, Chair of the Mendel Art Gallery and Art Gallery of Saskatchewan Board of Trustees, today unveiled the proposed concept drawings for the new Art Gallery of Saskatchewan (AGS).

“The unveiling of the concept drawings is an amazing moment in the history of our city. This building will honour our past and our river. It takes us forward into our bright future as a cosmopolitan city,”His Worship Mayor Donald Atchison said.

The concept drawings for this $84-million project will be presented for approval at a special City Council meeting on May 30, 2011. Administration will also report back to City Council regarding the funding strategy for the AGS by the end of June 2011.

“The AGS design is extraordinary,”said Dr. Knight. “The promise of this new building is already generating excitement locally and outside of our city’s borders. This will be an outstanding city landmark that attracts tourists and citizens of Saskatoon to a shared meeting place.”

This design achieves the destination centre concept envisioned by City Council and the federal and provincial funding partners. The striking AGS concept drawings will also fuel public engagement with a new capital campaign.

“After early conversations with lead donors, we are confident in our ability to raise $20 million through a capital campaign if the AGS is approved in its current design,”said Doug Hodson, Capital Campaign Chair.

The design is a creation of Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects (KPMB) of Toronto in association with Winnipeg-based Smith Carter Architects and Engineers Incorporated. KPMB has extensive experience with gallery design, including the Hamilton Art Gallery, The Toronto International Film Festival building, and the Canadian Museum of Nature, for which it won the 2011 Ontario Association of Architects Design Excellence award.