Southern Alberta Art Gallery

Southern Alberta Art Gallery
Location in Lethbridge
Established 1976
Location 601 3rd Avenue South
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
T1J 0H4
Coordinates 49°41′46″N 112°50′18″W / 49.69606°N 112.83846°W / 49.69606; -112.83846
Director Ryan Doherty
Curator Ryan Doherty
Website Southern Alberta Art Gallery

The Southern Alberta Art Gallery is located in downtown Lethbridge, Alberta and is known as one of Canada's leading contemporary art galleries.[1] It has three gallery spaces and a gift shop.

History

In 1974, local residents formed the Southern Alberta Art Gallery Association to lobby Lethbridge City Council to establish a gallery in the building vacated by the Lethbridge Public Library. The city approved the proposal and provided renovation and operating grants to establish the gallery. The first exhibitions opened in 1976.

Allan MacKay served as the first director/curator from 1975–1979. MacKay established the strong curatorial and publishing programs which characterize the SAAG to this day and attracted Canada Council support. When he moved to lead the Mendel Art Gallery in Saskatoon he was replaced by his former assistant, Alf Bogusky, who served as Director until 1985. Joan Stebbins was the director/curator of SAAG from 1985 when Bogusky became the Director of the Art Gallery of Windsor in Ontario.[2] Stebbins' long tenure saw the steady advancement of the gallery's reputation on the Canadian and International art scene. The growing complexity and success of the operation required more staff support and in 1999 Marilyn Smith was appointed Director with Stebbins then focusing on curatorial until her retirement in 2008. Subsequently and supported by Curator Ryan Doherty Marilyn Smith developed the gallery outreach and education programs and oversaw a significant renovation of the gallery before her retirement in 2013. Ryan Doherty has been Director since then. SAAG is unique in many ways including the fact that with the exception of the founding Director Allan MacKay, the institution's leadership has been nurtured from within.

Notes

  1. ↑ Information, Southern Alberta Art Gallery. Accessed 25 December 2006.
  2. ↑ "Southern Alberta Art Galleria". Museums, Galleries & Archives. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2007-03-26.


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