Tom Thomson Art Gallery Director and Library CEO Present at National Museums Conference

On Thursday, April 11, Director and Chief Curator Aidan Ware and Library CEO, Tim Nicholls Harrison were joined by artist, poet, and environmental activist Liz Zetlin to co-present on their work establishing the OPEN Team and launching Pollinate Owen Sound at the Canadian Museums Association national conference in Niagara Falls.

They were selected by a jury to present based on the topic of “Small Museums, Big Topics” as part of the overall conference, which was titled The Future is Collaboration. The session was attended by approximately 100 representatives from institutions across Canada. Their presentation highlighted the work they had done to create the OPEN Card in 2022 and the subsequent establishment of the OPEN Team which has supported the launch of grassroots initiatives such as Pollinate Owen Sound in 2023. In conjunction with a major exhibition of Sara Angelucci’s work that explored the impacts of settler colonialism, the OPEN Team organized a Pollinator Symposium that was held at the Art Gallery in connection with River District Blooms and which included the inauguration of Owen Sound’s first certified pollinator garden which is located in the canoe just outside of the Farmer’s Market.

“Pollinate Owen Sound’s collaboration with the OPEN Team, Owen Sound’s four distinguished cultural institutions, provides us with such great leadership and support as we work to educate and inspire our community to take action to create pollinator habitats in public and private spaces in Owen Sound,” commented Liz Zetlin.

The OPEN Card is a partnership between the Tom Thomson Art Gallery, Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library, Billy Bishop Museum, and the Community Waterfront Heritage Centre that provides access to all four institutions at no cost. It’s available free to anyone who is eligible for a Library card and also includes the benefit of free access to many other art galleries across Ontario.

The OPEN Team consists of the leadership of these organizations who meet regularly to support the development of important local projects and ideas.

For more information, please contact Aidan Ware, Director and Chief Curator, at 519-376-1932 ext. 5001 or email aware@tomthomson.org

Quotes:

“The innovative OPEN card membership program and subsequent OPEN Team initiatives have improved access to arts and culture for everyone in our community since its launch in 2022. I applaud the collaborative efforts of the OPEN Team and hope that others are inspired to create similar programs across the country.”

– Mayor Ian Boddy

“The conference was an incredible opportunity for Owen Sound to shine on a national stage. After our presentation, I had people flag me down to say that they felt it was the most inspiring session out of the entire two-day conference. We might be a small community, but it’s wonderful to know that we are ableto  have a big impact through our innovative projects.”

-Aidan Ware, Director and Chief Curator, Art Gallery, Culture, Tourism

“It is great to work with amazing cultural champions like Aidan, Liz and the other OPEN Team members. The opportunity to share our work with leaders in the arts realm across Canada was truly an honour. It was a pleasure to contribute to this significant endeavor. We look forward to bringing more projects to fruition locally with the contributions of our community.”

-Tim Nicholls Harrison, CEO / Chief Librarian, Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library

Quick Facts:

• Director and Chief Curator Aidan Ware, Library CEO Tim Nicholls Harrison, and artist, poet, and environmental activist Liz Zetlin co-presented on their work establishing the OPEN Team and launching Pollinate Owen Sound at the Canadian Museums Association national conference in Niagara Falls
• They were selected by a jury to present based on the topic of “Small Museums, Big Topics”
• The presentation was attended by approximately 100 representatives from institutions across Canada.
• The OPEN Card is a partnership between the Tom Thomson Art Gallery, Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library, Billy Bishop Museum, and the Waterfront Heritage Centre that provides access to all four institutions at no cost.

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