SUDBURY - Organizers of Sudbury's music and arts festival, Up Here, have asked the public's assistance in locating the individual(s) responsible for a theft that took place on the site of the former St. Joseph's hospital Saturday night.
Now owned by Panoramic Properties, the building is being used as part of Up Here festival, to feature the art of Los Angeles artist Risk in the form of Canada's largest mural.
On Aug. 24, multiple pieces of specialized equipment including industrial paint sprayers were stolen from the property said Christian Pelletier, co-founder and organizer of Up Here Festival. Two locks were cut to achieve this, one on the surrounding fence and another on the storage container where the equipment had been kept overnight.
Regrettably, Pelletier said this is not the first set-back the project has endured, resulting in a lot of unexpected costs for equipment, rentals, paint and manpower these past few weeks. "We knew that breaking any record was going to have some bumps along the way but this morning’s theft of equipment is a particular blow," Pelletier is quoted in a press release.
Pelletier said the team is committed to completing the project but as it stands, they will be doing so at a loss, which is why they have sought the public's assistance in locating the individual(s) responsible and in covering the cost of the loss.
"Panoramic Properties have helped us cover a good chunk of the project costs, but right now, we need more help to pull this off," he said.
Anyone with information relating to the incident is asked to contact Greater Sudbury Police at 705-675-9171 using reference number SU19059467. Organizers said they will not ask questions or press charges it the equipment is returned.
In addition, they ask anyone willing to donate or temporarily lend their paint sprayer to contact them through their website.
Up Here is described in a press release as a small, volunteer-run organization that is dedicated to reshaping the way Sudburians see and interact with their community.
Those interested in helping cover the cost of the loss can make their donation here.
