
The Artwork Gallery of Sudbury (AGS) is shut pursuing a latest protection inspection of the building, officials said this week, and a momentary go to Laurentian College (LU) is a likelihood.

“We regret to convey that the Artwork Gallery of Sudbury is currently shut,” the gallery mentioned on its social media page Thursday.

Owned by LU, the faculty had an engineering business examine the historic Bell Mansion, which houses the gallery.

LU shared the outcomes of the inspection with the gallery Oct. 6, which encouraged limiting obtain to the setting up. Problems emerged invovling the chimney on the west facet of the buidling and the exterior south stone wall.

“The letter stated it was required to limit obtain to unique areas of the building, out of an abundance of warning because of to noticed disorders,” the AGS claimed.

“The gallery immediately complied with the letter of suggestion and has been closed considering that that time. Laurentian College has erected obstacles all around the precise regions and has hired professionals to more look into the state of the constructing.”

Dr. Sheila Embleton, LU’s interim president, advised CTV Information in an electronic mail that the college is doing the job carefully with the AGS on the challenge.

“The Artwork Gallery of Sudbury and the Bell Mansion are essential fixtures of the Higher Sudbury community and they are also crucial to Laurentian,” Embleton reported.

“We have employed an engineering organization to consider the structural repairs and to comprehend what will be essential in purchase to safely and securely reopen the developing. We are also analyzing choices to quickly home the art gallery on campus if it could be practical. We do not anticipate this closure owning an effect on our present-day arrangement with the artwork gallery.”

The Bell Mansion has housed the gallery considering the fact that 1967, but the AGS has been searching for a new dwelling for a range of a long time. Options to build a new gallery on Shaughnessy Road in Sudbury fell target to the prolonged battle over the Kingsway Leisure District previous 12 months.

Far more just lately, the metropolis has been transferring forward with a system to move the gallery and the library into Tom Davies Square, but that system is a long time from completion.

In the meantime, the AGS is seeking into alternate areas for its weeknight and weekend art education and learning programs.

Updates will be provided on the gallery web-site when offered.