Strategic Plan 2019-2024
VISION STATEMENT
Located on Treaty 7 territory, the traditional land of Niitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy), the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery is an accessible space that fosters visibility to the arts through diverse community engagement, supported by sustainable infrastructure, and founded on relationships, consultation, and education.
The University of Lethbridge Art Gallery wants to be the most accessible art gallery in Canada. We want to make a difference in people’s lives by providing access for a diversity of people to the art that we house in our collection and that we display. We embrace the Blackfoot teaching that those with knowledge have a responsibility to care for and to share that knowledge.
ARTISTIC STATEMENT
The artistic vision driving the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery’s exhibitions and programs is to generate deeply meaningful engagement with art in order to spark contemplation, learning, and dialogue amongst a diverse group of people.
The three pillars guiding this vision are: art is relevant – art sparks curiosity, invites learning, and crosses barriers; research – the Art Gallery partners with scholars to study what is involved with effective public engagement and works with artists as long-term research partners; and foundation – we can only achieve our goal with a strong foundation of staff, resources, infrastructure, and a well-managed art collection.
MISSION STATEMENT
Our public programs, events, and exhibitions connect diverse communities, contemporary artists, and art collections. Let us give you a place to talk, think, create, and learn. For a meaningful experience, come through our door.
CORE VALUES & PRINCIPLES
Learning
We are here to mentor, share, and exchange ideas.
Honouring
We honour the territory, the people, the cultures, and personal experience of all who come through our door.
Sustainability
We work toward an environmentally conscious practice and space.
Acceptance
We will use discretion and empathy to interpret context.
Safety
Students, staff, guests, artist, funds, and the art collection will be safe.
GOALS
Secure Independent Funding Sources
In collaboration with the Art Gallery Advisory Committee and in consultation with uLethbridge Advancement, create a fundraising campaign for immediate programming support for the Art Gallery identifying current and future donors, and set goals with respect to securing major donors.
Improve physical accessibility
To enhance visitor experiences, increase traffic to the Gallery and broaden the scope of programming, accessibility must be improved. Expanding resources to include an on-site exhibition interpreter will be evaluated. Potential collaborative projects with on-campus departments and units (i.e. Iikaisskini and the Theatre Box Office) will be determined with respect to programming potential in the University Hall Atrium. Finally, increased on-campus signage and better parking models need to be evaluated, with achievable plans to provide better access by visitors.
Sustainable Workloads
To better meet the strategic priorities of the Gallery and the University, prioritizing staff resources is essential. A working plan for internships, including potential for special one-time projects will be evaluated.
Environmentally Sustainable Practices
The Art Gallery will incorporate environmentally sustainable practices in all aspects of operations including exhibitions, public programming, research, infrastructure, art practices and advocacy. This includes eliminating single use materials for Gallery events, working with contemporary artists to reduce the ecological footprint of art installations, and completing installation of LED lighting in all Gallery spaces. Procurement practices will consider lower impact alternatives at every stage.
CONTEXT
The University of Lethbridge has a liberal education mandate focused on expanding knowledge and viewpoints, integrating knowledge across disciplines, generating critical and creative thinking, and fostering community citizenship. All four of these pillars are core to the Art Gallery’s approach to engaging audiences and to the goals of our exhibitions, public programs, publications, website, and permanent collection of art. The Art Gallery functions within the University of Lethbridge’s mandate to support the exploration of complex ideas through the diversity of artists we work with and the art works we present, and our connection to emerging artists who will benefit directly from the diversity of programming and community connections offered here. The University of Lethbridge Art Gallery supports the University’s strategic direction to “build internal community and enhance relationships with external communities” and plays a key role in the public face of the University.