Since the opening of the Weyburn Credit Union Spark Centre in 2021, the Weyburn Art Gallery has featured two art exhibitions simultaneously, and at times there have even been three shows including the upper walls facing the walking track.
Now, Curator Regan Lanning has changed up the format to show just one at a time in the main floor Gallery.
“There still will be shows along the walking track,” she noted.
She explained this is due to the limited funding for the Gallery.
“So, instead of having two shows all the time and the space being a little cramped as a result, I’ve decided to do fewer shows but have them be amazing, as always,” she shared.
Funding that would have covered a secondary show are now being reallocated to enrich the art experience for the community, freeing up the budget to accommodate the artist to stay in Weyburn, teach a class, and attend their opening reception for their exhibition.
Lanning said about eight years ago she also extended the duration of each exhibition to three months.
For example, “The James Weir ends the third week in March, and then I have a week where I can do a gallery refresh. I can paint the walls, and then in April a new show starts up.”.
“When Iris Hauser came down, because we only had her one show in the Gallery, I had the funds to pay her travel to come to Weyburn, and I was able to pay for her hotel stay, and I was able to pay for her meals, and take care of her while she was here. She was here for the reception, and then the next day, she taught a class. So one trip, but two things, and then that ends up pretty much costing what a secondary show would be.”
Read more: Iris Hauser on exhibit “Crone Ascendant”: A powerful tribute to older women
She added the change now enables, “more gallery extension programs, more artists at receptions, and more artists teaching classes.”
The current exhibition, ‘Zero Degrees of Separation’, features works from the City of Weyburn’s Permanent Art Collection, which is in its 50th year.
Read more: [PHOTOS]: Weyburn Gallery opening reception for, ‘Zero Degrees of Separation’