The Estevan Art Gallery and Museum (EAGM) had a record number of visitors in 2016, according to reports filed at the organization’s annual general meeting on March 1.
The EAGM boasted total attendance of 14,077, which was up by nearly 3,000 people from the 11,298 people who entered the building in 2015. It was the third straight year in which at least 10,000 people have passed through their doors.
“Traditionally we do events like the Halloween Haunt and Homemade for the Holidays, which we’ve kind of established,” said director Amber Andersen. “Certainly the Games (2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games) helped as well.
“We’ve also really taken to doing a lot of partnerships, so we actually had partnered for an art project that was on display at the hospital. All those things kept adding up to a really great year.”
In her report, Andersen said the new record for visitors came despite significant changes in staff last year, and she paid tribute to those employees. Martina Veneziano and Jackie Hank served as educators while Karly Garnier was on maternity leave. Garnier has returned to the EAGM.
David Dyck was the associate curator for the first nine months of the year. Sarah Durham has been the curator of collections since October.
The EAGM had 18 total exhibitions last year that exhibited the works of 38 artists. Fifteen of the exhibits were curated by the EAGM, and three were borrowed.
Seventeen of the 38 artists, or 44 per cent, were local artists. Another 13 were from Saskatchewan, and the remaining eight artists were from elsewhere in Canada.
Their receptions attracted 2,961 people.
Audited financial statements released during the meeting showed that the EAGM had revenues of $296,396. The City of Estevan’s grant accounted for $150,000 of the money. Fundraising was $20,592, which was about $12,000 lower than the year before.
The EAGM switched its top fundraiser last year, moving from the duelling pianos cabaret that they had from 2013 to 2015, to a hobby horse night that they held last November. The hobby horse night will now become an annual event.
“We are very excited to see how lucrative this event will be for EAGM, as we know we will manage to grow it every year,” board chair Amber Ganje said in her report.
Expenses were at $327,862, leaving them with a deficit of $31,226. Wages were their largest expense at $152,394, followed by Saskatchewan Arts Board costs for fees and installation at $34,009.
