Letter from the Executive Director

Dear Friends,

This past year was one of growth and renewal for Nanaimo Art Gallery. We closed the fiscal year in a stronger position, guided by our mission to engage and inspire community through art.

We launched a trilogy of annual inquiries—asking how we can work, play, and live together. Our first question, How can we work together?, was explored through three compelling exhibitions. Sun Over Swamp featured works by Rebecca Brewer, Azadeh Elmizadeh, Rita Letendre, Gailan Ngan, and Takao Tanabe. ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᔪᒻᒪᕆᒃ Double Vision profiled the groundbreaking artistry of Jessie Oonark and her daughters, Janet Kigusiuq and Victoria Mamnguqsualuk. We concluded with shnu’a’th, ᐊᑳᒥᕽ akâmihk, the other side, which brought together the work of Michelle Sound and Snuneymuxw artist Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun. We began 2025 by asking, How can we play together?, launching with Trust Fall by Laura Gildner and Jon Sasaki—setting the tone for a playful and participatory year ahead.

Inspired by this spirit of play, our team embraced change. We experimented with new formats, prototyped programs, and refined our offerings in response to community needs. Highlights included the success of our land acknowledgement workshops, a powerful Indigenous takeover of Making Waves, and the continued evolution of our teen programming. Initiatives that did not unfold as we had hoped became valuable opportunities for learning and adaptation. We also welcomed new staff who are helping to shape our programming, operations, and fund development. Our commitment to mentoring young artists and cultural workers continued through meaningful student and intern placements.

Financially, we ended the year with a planned deficit, strategically investing in our first dedicated fund development program. With the addition of a Director of Development, we launched a successful Giving Tuesday campaign, secured new sponsorships, and deepened donor relationships—even as we navigated challenges such as prolonged downtown construction.

I am deeply grateful to our board, staff, volunteers, partners, and community for their commitment and support. Together, we have made this a year of resilience, experimentation, and growth.

With gratitude,

Carolyn Holmes
Executive Director, Nanaimo Art Gallery

Letter from the Board President

Dear Friends of Nanaimo Art Gallery,

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. By doing so, you are affirming your commitment to our community, your belief in the vital role that art plays in society, and your support of the Nanaimo Art Gallery. It has been a great honour to serve as Board President this past year, alongside a dedicated group of directors who share a deep passion for our mission.

The past year has flown by and has been filled with momentum, growth, and excitement for what lies ahead. A few highlights include:

• A renewed partnership with the City of Nanaimo. We successfully renegotiated our 10-year co-management agreement, ensuring that we can continue to operate our current facility while delivering outstanding exhibitions and programs that meet community needs.
• Progress toward a new gallery. In June, our presentation to City Council resulted in a unanimous vote endorsing our Business Plan and Case for Support. The vision of a new gallery, integrated into a mixed-use development, is no longer just a dream — it is becoming a shared goal for our city.
• Collaboration in action. Our New Gallery Working Group — bringing together board members, Gallery staff, and City staff — has blossomed into a true partnership, with everyone learning from one another and rowing in the same direction.
• Engagement with all levels of government. We have held constructive conversations with representatives at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels, laying the groundwork for future support.
• Strengthening financial sustainability. Our new fund development program is taking shape and positioning the Gallery to be less reliant on government funding while preparing us for the capital campaign required to realize the new gallery.

This year has also reinforced an undeniable truth: our current facility no longer meets the growing demand for our programs. From oversubscribed summer camps, to sold-out artist talks, to the limitations of a single exhibition space that must go dark between shows, it is clear that our community is ready for more. And encouragingly, the community is telling us so — by volunteering, donating, and advocating for a new gallery that will serve Nanaimo for generations to come.
On behalf of the Board, thank you for standing with us. I invite you to stay engaged and lean in as we push forward together. With your continued support, we will achieve the art gallery that this community both needs and deserves.

With gratitude,

Barney Ellis-Perry
Board President, Nanaimo Art Gallery