THEN & NOW
TERRITORIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Penticton Art Gallery acknowledges that the land on which we gather is the unceded, traditional territory of the syilx (Okanagan) Peoples.
MISSION
The Penticton Art Gallery’s mission is to engage our diverse community in an ongoing dialogue about issues and ideas as expressed through contemporary and historic art practices and to provide opportunities for interaction with artists and the artistic process.
VISION
Penticton Art Gallery’s vision is a world where the visual arts foster greater inclusiveness, social engagement, critical thinking, and creativity.
MANDATE
The Penticton Art Gallery exists to exhibit, interpret, preserve, and promote our collective artistic and cultural heritage as expressed through the visual arts. Our gallery is accessible to everyone as a vibrant public space in service of our community. Our exhibitions, education and outreach programs engage our community in local, regional, and global issues, while embracing cultural and gender diversity, and the work of indigenous artists.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Penticton Art Gallery enriches lives by sharing opportunities for artistic expression, creative connections & cultural impact.
1950’s
The Penticton Art Club functioned as a club for artists and a show committee to bring in exhibitions.
The club subscribed to the Western Canada Art Circuit, giving access to travelling exhibitions which were hung in the Jubilee Pavillion on Okanagan Lake. Today this pavillion houses the Penticton Community Policing Office, but originally it was an open area. The club also brought in shows on its own initiative and arranged exhibitions for local artists.
1965
The Penticton Art Club Show Committee averaged sixteen exhibitions a year, some of which were hung in the Community Arts Centre building which was opened in July of 1965, and others in the Peach Bowl.
Workshops were brought in through the University of British Columbia Extension Department and the local Recreation Commission.
1968
The Western Canada Art Circuit folded, the University of British Columbia cut off its workshops and the Recreation Commission folded.
The National Gallery, on discovering the lack of security in small galleries, decided that certain standards (of security, personnel, walls, lighting, etc.) would have to be met before they would circulate exhibitions or recommend circulation by other galleries or embassies.
1970
APRIL: The Penticton Art Club Show Committee asked the city for use of Studio A for security and better exhibiting space.
NOVEMBER: The first exhibition was hung in Studio A.
1971
SPRING: The walls of Studio A were panelled through funds from the associate Club account and with the help of Club members.
The Penticton Art Club's finding of secure exhibiting space and obtaining trained personnel, in addition to booking exhibitions, changed the initial function of the art club to that of mainly an exhibition committee. For the Penticton Art Club's sake, this brought about the decision to have it again function as a club for artists, and to form a separate group for those interested in exhibitions.
SEPTEMBER: The Show Committee changed its name to the Penticton Arts Centre Gallery and began iincorporating.
1972
NOVEMBER: The Penticton Arts Centre Gallery was incorporated as a non-profit organization under the Societies Act.
1973
NOVEMBER: The gallery asked the city for use of Studio B in order to expand its exhibition and educational programmes.
1974
JANUARY: The Arts Centre Gallery office was moved to the alcove in Studio A.
APRIL: The first exhibition was hung in Studio B.
1975
Approximately seventeen exhibitions were hung in Studio A, eight in Studio B and eleven in the foyer.
1976
The Okanagan Exhibition Circuit, encompassing galleries in Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon started up. There were several workshops and exhibitions such as the "15th Annual Okanagan Valley Jury Show".
1977
On July 8th, 1977, the name of the Penticton Arts Centre Gallery was officially changed to the Penticton Art Gallery. The name change came with a new logo designed by Summerland based artist Jack Davis.
Approximately twenty shows were exhibited in 1977. The shows included the lithographs of Honore Daumier (1808-1879), and a show comparing the works of English artists William Hogarth (1697-1764) and David Hockney (b. 1937).
1978
The Art Gallery exhibited seventeen shows, such as "Portraits from the Road, Elaine Briere", the "National Exhibition of Children's Art" and in December, the popular "Coasting Along with Evelyn Roth".
1979
FEBRUARY: The Art Gallery hosts the very popular "Contemporary Canadian Indian Art" exhibition.
APRIL: Terrence Heath researched his report on the Art Gallery. The project was funded by National Museums of Canada.
JUNE: The Art Gallery adopted a new constitution at the Annual General Meeting.
1980’s
Early in the decade discussion and fundraising begins around the proposed relocation of the Penticton Art Gallery to it's current location at 199 Marina Way.
1984
Ground is officially broken at the site of the new Penticton Art Gallery building.
1985
The new Penticton Art Gallery building is officially opened! The first exhibition in this new space opens in November of this year.
