Yarmouth’s art gallery is no more.
The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia has decided not to re-open the Western Branch on Main Street.
In a release, CEO Sarah Moore Fillmore says the cost of operating the satellite branch is high, and the funds can be better used for art programming across the province, including the Western region.
The province owns the building, it opened as a year-round art gallery in 2006.
Operations became seasonal after the pandemic.
There are no staff members, so no jobs will be affected.
The Visitor Information Centre will still be open in the building.
Moore Fillmore says more art programming will be offered in the area to align with the way other regions access art.
The branch was one of the last remaining provincial satellite art galleries in Canada.
Churchill says province didn’t step up
Yarmouth MLA and Liberal leader Zach Churchill says he’s crushed.
He says the art gallery is an important facility that was the anchor of the downtown.
“It’s bad news, particularly as tourism season is on our doorstep. We’re about to have a huge influx of tourists into our region, especially this August for the World Acadian Congress. I’m disappointed the Houston government didn’t step up,” said Churchill.
Churchill says the art gallery was a success story, and it sends a message that Yarmouth isn’t a priority.