Introducing the Circle
The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is delighted to welcome the Young Patrons’ Circle to its family of volunteers and supporters. The establishment of this Circle marks a full year of work by a committed group of young Nova Scotians who believe strongly that art and culture make their community a better place to live. I want to thank the steering committee for their diligence and belief in the AGNS. Alyson Queen, Bessy Nikolaou, Joe Burke, Pamela Chisholm, Lizzie Dodds, Joanne Hames, Mary Hill, Kelly McGuire, Alice McCarron and Mitchell Wiebe all deserve enormous credit for making this undertaking possible.
The Circle’s commitment to helping the AGNS build the people’s collection by expanding the contemporary collection is a testament to engaged civic minded young Nova Scotians. The Gallery is thrilled to have such committed volunteers and looks forward to the exciting programme of events throughout the year. The Circle’s annual event programme is going to be a fun addition to the Gallery’s roster of events and programmes. Everything from wild parties to art history seminars as a means of engaging new audiences for the visual arts in Nova Scotia as well as to raise much needed funds and build the Collection. Stay tuned for the annual event line up as we look forward to seeing you at the AGNS.
Guest Post by Bernard Doucet (ex-officio)
Comments (2)
Hi Margaret,
I’m Alyson, Chair of the Circle. I really want to thank you for writing and offering some important feedback.
For the AGNS Young Patron’s Circle, the demographic range of 20-40 is really just a general target; a means of us addressing the fact that we want to get people of the younger generations into the Gallery, experiencing it in a new way and interacting with existing members (of all ages) and artists alike.
The whole purpose of the group is encourage membership and ownership in the AGNS, a gem of public institutions. The need to foster engagement in a new way is critical to the future sustainability of the AGNS. And you’re absolutely right – that includes people of all ages.
Art – and our focus contemporary art – provides a tremendous opportunity to bring people together and this group provides the added benefit of a living legacy for all Nova Scotians, as the funds raised are directed towards future contemporary acquisitions at the Gallery.
I invite you to attend our events (some are exclusive to Circle members – others are open to all who wish to attend) or perhaps become more involved.
Finally, to address your specific question on age limits, we technically have set it at 49, when at such point our hope is that individuals/families will consider one of the other membership/investment options at the Gallery.
Sincerely,
Alyson Queen
Chair
SO, when a member turns 40, do you kick them out? This whole club seems really age-ist. I am keenly aware that Halifax needs to hold or attract more young people in this age group, but are they really staying away because they don’t want to hang out with people their parent’s age? Maybe just more contemporary social happenings at the AGNS would help – the kind that cross generations. In Denver the art museum used to have a live music happy hour on Fridays; sometimes people even danced. It was a trendy place to go after work.
If you separate the young people from the old then it is dead boring for us boomers, and believe it or not some of us have a lot to offer this generation. There is wisdom in mingling. But it takes some creative planning to get that to happen. I don’t think a club based on age is the answer.
In my experience (in Halifax since 2003) the young people fall into two categories: students, many of whom will relocate to other cities after graduation, and those who marry and return, and other young CA families, that choose Halifax as a good place to raise their children. The latter group are pretty stretched,and have different needs than the former, but they are committed to making Halifax an enriching place. The former (the students) and I would include here the young professionals, are looking for opportunities to leave, so much of what you invest in them is taken out of the province, and not given back.
Its a conundrum.
The older people fall into categories, too, but that is another story, and not one you are addressing, though inevitably, you do aspire to wake up one day as a member of that club!
Good luck with your efforts.
Margaret