The Estevan Art Gallery and Museum (EAGM) recorded a record number of visitors in 2015, according to information supplied at the EAGM’s annual general meeting on March 30.
The EAGM had 11,298 people pass through its doors, said director Amber Andersen, which was a slight increase from 10,863 the previous year. The previous record was 9,946 in 2011.
“More than ever, we find people using this facility, which is really good news,” Andersen said in an interview with the Mercury.
The EAGM tracks the number of people who attend their receptions, events, programs and courses, and they also track visitors through their guest book.
Included in their total was 2,477 people who attend education programs through school tours, after school programs, senior classes, adult art initiatives, family art programs, summer art courses and community and/or program events.
The addition of a curator position in recent years has helped them boost attendance.
“I think you can see us doing more … not just with education classes, like our adult classes, but doing more programming,” said Andersen. “If there are events that are specifically tied to the art exhibitions or the museum, it helps to get more people in the door.”
The EAGM had 16 exhibitions last year that featured the talents of 57 artists. Twenty-eight of those artists were local and 23 more were from elsewhere in Saskatchewan.
Andersen was proud to see a strong contingent of Saskatchewan artists last year.
As for fundraisers, the Duelling Pianos cabaret in September was a big success, but the EAGM plans to retire the event, as they believe they need a fresh idea to keep people interested in their fundraisers.
“It’s such a fun event, and people really like it, but it’s super easy to organize, which leads itself to being co-opted by a lot of people,” said Andersen. “So maybe an event that was really exciting and fresh for us three years ago, ain’t what it used to be.”
They held a craft beer tasting night last month, and they will host other events in 2016.
It was a year of transition for the staff. While Andersen is wrapping up her fifth year as the EAGM’s director, educator Karly Garnier went on maternity leave last December, and Ali King stepped down as curator last March. Sarah Durham came on as the curator of collections after King left, but went on leave in July to study overseas. She is expected to return in October.
David Dyck started working as the associate curator last October, and Martina Veneziano joined the staff as the educator in January of this year.
The meeting also featured the election of the board of directors. Amber Ganje will return for another years as the chairperson, and Tyler Perry will be the vice-chair. Monica Elson will be the secretary, George Sereggela the treasurer and City Councillor Brian Johnson the council representative.
Other board members will be Kathryn Gilliss, Andrea McClelland, Tammy Podovinnikoff, Terry Williams and Allison Dinsmore.
