The city could fork over $30,000 for a public art installation featuring three colourful boxes that have been permanently installed outside city hall.
At Monday night's general committee meeting, councillors gave initial approval to purchasing Soapbox, which is currently being leased at $5,000 per year. So far, the city has paid $15,000, with the next payment due in October.
Coun. Sergio Morales said he wasn't sure if purchasing the piece was money well spent.
"Art is up for interpretation to the person who sees the piece," Morales said. "I've appreciated having the piece for the time we've had it, I just personally don't feel that it's worth the value to purchase the Soapbox that's currently being leased."
Morales said his preference would be to finish the terms of the lease and then "rethink" the option to purchase.
However, Deputy Mayor Barry Ward said the public art committee recommended the city purchase the piece and the municipality has already paid $15,000 toward it.
"I don't think it makes sense to continue to lease it," he said. "It's there, it's already been half paid for and it's coming from the art committee budget ... money they've already put aside for this project. So I think, at this late date, it makes no sense to keep leasing it when we've almost purchased it already."
Councillors voted to purchase the piece, but it still requires final approval at next week's city council meeting.
The city has been leasing Soapbox, which is located in the city hall courtyard, since the fall of 2017. It was created by the Minden-based artistic team of Chris Hanson and Hendrika Sonnenberg, "whose work draws upon the practical use of everyday objects and brings a sense of whimsy to the ordinary," according to a report from Amanda Dyke, the city's culture officer.
"The artwork is high quality, functional and durable, and unlike any other pieces of public art found in Barrie," Dyke added.
The artists' work can also be found on the Halifax Pier and in Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, N.Y.
The Soapbox piece was installed in the fall of 2019 following the city hall courtyard's repaving. It also provides a place for people to take seat while lacing up their skates at the Circle at the Centre or to take a break.
"The courtyard out front of city hall was selected because it fits with the theme of the art piece, there are no other outdoor art installations at the site and it offers more protections from the elements and other variables," Dyke said.
In 2015, council approved $25,000 for the Barrie Public Art Committee to create opportunities for the permanent placement of public art.
To acknowledge the 150th anniversary of Confederation two years later, the committee organized a temporary public art exhibition.
At that time, council approved the installation of temporary public art displays, including Soapbox, "to make the downtown a destination through interesting public art installations that appeal to residents and visitors, and encourage them to visit public spaces," said Dyke.
Following the exhibition, the committee saw an opportunity to maintain a "legacy piece" from the project, she added.
Soapbox was chosen "for its durability, ease of maintenance, and because it represents the fundamental Canadian right to freedom of speech," Dyke said.
