Beaverbrook Art Gallery Gets Ready for the Future
The Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton is gearing up for a multi-million dollar* renovation, set to begin in the coming weeks.
With the decade-long legal saga over ownership of some of the gallery’s most important works firmly behind it – and the 78 contested works still in the gallery’s possession – the province’s art gallery is making good on the commitment Director Terry Graff made following the end of the court battle in 2014 to “develop and grow and become a better and stronger organization.”
[mks_pullquote align=”right” width=”250″ size=”16″ bg_color=”#666666″ txt_color=”#ffffff”]A Wider Perspective: While refurbishment projects like Phase 1 of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery’s expansion don’t grab the headlines like new structural additions, they’re vital if a gallery wants to stay in the game. The incredible gift of some 2000 photographs by American photographer Annie Leibovitz to the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia – given byToronto’s Mintz family in 2013 and worth some $20 million – still has yet to be exhibited, in part because the current building is in need of some serious upgrades – possibly even a new facility – before it will be ready to exhibit such valuable work. [/mks_pullquote]
So what will a better and stronger Beaverbrook Art Gallery look like?
The complete project is comprised of two phases: Phase 1, a $3.75 million revitalization project; and Phase 2, which will involve the construction of a major structural addition to the gallery.
Phase 1 has been funded in part from the Department of Canadian Heritage and ACOA, in addition to in-house funding, and is now largely complete. This project primarily consisted of upgrading existing infrastructure – such as the climate control systems and expanding the loading dock and storage area.
While phases like this aren’t as exciting as full-on expansions, they’re vital to keeping the gallery’s rating as a Class A facility. That’s a make-or-break condition if you want other top institutions to send major traveling exhibitions your way, or consider loaning individual works from their own collection.
Jeffrey Spalding is the new Senior Curator at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery. Spalding says that the renovation and expansion work will help the gallery to deliver first-rate programming. He says it will also make the Beaverbrook one of the largest Class A public art venues east of Montreal.
“It positions (the) Beaverbrook as a highly desirable partner to host premium national and international traveling exhibitions: a leader and cultural anchor for the Atlantic region.”
Spalding says that when it comes to bringing in major exhibitions, galleries have to be ready to compete in a competitive landscape.
“The most exciting exhibitions are always in high demand; our attractive new facility should help us win many of these very competitive bids. Likewise it gives us the necessary tools to create our own superlative exhibitions that can be offered for international tour.”
Nancy Coy, the gallery’s Manager of Development says the new pavilion the gallery is building – designed by MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects Limited of Halifax and overseen by Maxim Construction – will add approximately 14,000 feet of new interior space.
“That includes approximately 4000 square feet of exhibition space, the Bruno Bobak Artist-in-Residence Studio, the Sobey Youth Art Space, the RBC Learning Centre, a versatile, multi-use space, and a contemporary café.
“A new Sculpture Courtyard will also be built, serving as a foreground to the lower level where the artist-in-residence studio, learning centre and café will be located.”
Jeremy Elder-Jubelin is the Manager of Communications and Visitor Services for the gallery. He expects this project to improve gallery goers’ experience in multiple ways. Not only does more exhibition space mean more art on view, but the gallery will become more accessible to patrons with mobility challenges, and the artistic process can be made more accessible, too.
“The artist-in-residence studio will create a space where visitors can interact with artists and learn more about the art-making process, ” said Elder-Jubelin.
Nowadays many leading art institutions include artist-in-residence facilities and learning centres that can host school groups and youth programming. The inclusion of these elements is an important way for galleries to position themselves as vibrant institutions that are engaged with their communities as well as the contemporary art world. In doing so, it also challenges the image of a gallery as a dusty old place to store paintings.
Coy also points out that the expansion will create some great opportunities for the business community, with the addition of the multi-use space allowing the facility to host professional development, networking and client appreciation events. Both private and corporate memberships to the gallery continue to be available.
Plans this big come at a cost, and it’s no surprise that the facility is in the midst of a serious fundraising campaign as it works toward its $28 million goal.
The fundraising has received some significant support already, including lead donations in excess of $1 million each coming from four different supporters: Jim, Arthur, and John Irving and their families; Elizabeth A. and Richard J. Currie OC; one anonymous donor; and the Harrison McCain Foundation, the McCain Foundation, and McCain family members.
There’s also been strong support from the business community – 65% of the funds raised to date have come from the private sector.
Elder-Jubelin described the feeling among the staff:
“We’re looking forward to the possibilities this expansion will bring, especially for inspiring creativity and artistic expression and appreciation, and for celebrating and contributing to New Brunswick’s cultural life.”
With the project having been in the works for over nine years, it’s understandable that there’s great anticipation to see the project underway.
“We can’t wait for construction to be finished, for ribbons to be cut, and to welcome you into an expanded, renewed and reinvigorated Beaverbrook Art Gallery!”
The new wing is expected to open in late 2017.
*This post originally stated that Beaverbrook Art Gallery was preparing for a $28 million renovation. As the gallery’s fundraising goal, $28 million includes the renovation, as well as additions to programming and the gallery’s endowment. Huddle apologizes for any confusion this may have caused.