This summer was the busiest as far as Karly Garnier, the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum’s (EAGM) education, outreach and programming co-ordinator, can remember in her 10 years with the gallery.
Tourists were stopping by to check out the exhibits almost every day as opposed to the usual once a week visits that the gallery was used to before.
“Every day I have tourists travelling across Canada, from the States, but also there is a lot of local people coming in. I don’t know if people are just looking for more affordable things to do, or if we are more on their radar,” said Garnier.
One way or the other, the growing tourist traffic is always good news for the EAGM that has a lot of programs to offer and exhibitions to enjoy.
One of the big attractions of the year is the ongoing makerspace project and exhibition.
“Basically ... it’s been an open drop-in studio. So a lot of these pieces were projects that I did, like (projects) with Hillcrest School. Some projects I did ... with senior homes,” explained Garnier.
But a lot of pieces were painted by individuals who just stopped by the gallery on their own or with friends and families to add to the exhibition.
The project is ongoing, so people can still come in. Tables are set up and visitors can make a piece of art that will join other paintings on the wall at the Gallery No. 2.
When the exhibition is over on Sept. 6, people will be able to get their art pieces back.
The other exhibition, Mapping Narratives, will come to an end at the same time, opening room for new displays.
