An artist-run center in Ford City has taken down a public art project displayed on its building exterior following a disagreement with its landlord. The installation featured the message “Windsor had drag queens before you existed” on a text-based billboard, which the landlord alleged violated the lease terms. Artcite, the non-profit organization, expressed disagreement with this claim on their Facebook page and emphasized the importance of relocating the billboard to maintain the artistic independence and integrity of the Arts Council Windsor and Region’s New Voices Program.
The organization stated its commitment to finding a new location in Ford City for the New Voices Billboard to enable participating artists to showcase their work as intended. Meanwhile, the current exhibition, titled “Windsor Had Drag Queens Before You Existed,” will continue inside Artcite’s lobby until August 18.
The New Voices Billboard is a project by the arts council that highlights the work of local artists from marginalized communities through textual content displayed on a large white sign with interchangeable black letters. Initially launched in 2021 and re-launched in June with funding from the Windsor-Essex Community Foundation, the project aims to create a space for reflection, creativity, and dialogue in the community.
Artcite informed the landlord about the project’s purpose and format in April, receiving written permission to proceed with the initiative. Despite the landlord’s initial approval and lack of objection to wording changes during the first exhibit, a dispute arose after the launch of the current exhibition, leading to the demand for text removal and future wording approval.
To avoid potential financial and legal implications, Artcite decided to remove the billboard, despite clarifying that their lease does not mandate landlord approval for individual artworks or text changes. The artist behind the billboard, Cole Fortier, declined an interview post-removal, emphasizing the significance of the project’s message amid the surrounding controversy.
The Ford City BIA expressed disappointment over the installation’s removal and is actively seeking a new location for the project to continue fostering creativity, conversation, and diverse perspectives within the community. Local business owner Rino Bortolin supported the dialogue sparked by the art project, advocating for the freedom of arts organizations to express themselves within legal boundaries on their premises.
