Decommissioning policy looks to return to mural walls to blank state
By Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Just like it is the silence that makes the music, it is the blank wall that makes the mural.
A policy to return some walls to a blank state — after being used by the Nelson International Mural Festival — is being considered by city council.
Third reading has been given to an amendment of the Murals Development Permit Guidelines — at the recommendation of the Cultural Development Commission — to address the decommissioning of murals.
Last year the city adopted a new Mural Development Permit Guidelines Policy, but it did not address plans for the decommissioning or removing of murals after they have exhausted their life span.
“Earlier this year, the decommissioning of a mural in the downtown core made it clear that this criterion should be included in mural plans at the outset of commissioning the murals,” noted city deputy corporate officer Gabriel Bouvet-Boisclair in his report to council.
A decommissioning or removal plan could be included with mural permit applications in order to fulfill that requirement, including the terms agreed upon by the building owner and artist.
Mural allowance
The Official Community Plan Bylaw allows for murals, subject to site review and city policies and guidelines.
The Downtown Urban Design Strategy especially encourages murals in lanes to make them more attractive to pedestrians. The strategy recommends that additional criteria for murals based on best practices.
More to come …
