“Your Art Is HERE” A Message from Alexandra Badzak, Director and CEO

Dear OAG Members, Friends and Supporters,

As we re-opened OAG’s doors last summer, I watched as the words ‘YOUR ART IS HERE. VOTRE ART, ICI.’ were carefully revealed on the white bulkhead at our entrance at 2 Daly Avenue. A giant statement in bold, black vinyl, set to remind us that our space—your OAG—was, more than ever, truly where connection happened between Art and City. Today, this statement remains true. We have taken extraordinary steps to learn, grow and engage, and we have achieved some incredible milestones and established some great partnerships over the last year. Now, OAG is set to share some exciting partnerships, collaborations, exhibitions and initiatives with a goal to re-energize our wonderful space and prepare you all for what comes next!

A big thank you to The RBC Foundation for their generous $80,000 gift of support for the Connect: Artist Mentorship Program, a unique initiative that advances the professional development of artists through regular mentorship exchanges and showcase opportunities for graduates of the MFA (Master of Fine Arts) program offered at the University of Ottawa. We are looking forward to reveal the work of the class of 2023, having just wrapped up the brilliant Abound Exhibition of the class of 2022.

Working closely over the last two years to help lead the charge through an extraordinary journey of ups, downs, changes, and more changes for our notable visual arts institutions in Ottawa, I took a moment to ‘talk shop’ with Sasha Suda, Director and CEO of the National Gallery of Canada. Connected by the wonderful region we call home, OAG and the NGC navigated some extraordinary, and dare I hope, unique experiences, taking us to this moment in time—looking forward, and working more closely than ever before.  Read more about our up-coming and very exciting collaboration in my chat with Sasha featured in this week’s OAG Connexions newsletter and in the ‘NEWS’ section of our new website at OAGGAO.CA.

Spring is approaching and OAG is preparing for the return of our beloved in-person events, celebrations, exhibition openings, activities and public programming (mark your calendars for fun-packed day at OAG on Sunday, March 27!). As you walk through our doors, I invite you to take in the statement on that bulkhead and to discover how OAG intends to continue to live up to those words.

Ottawa, Your Art is HERE.

Alexandra Badzak
Director and CEO, Ottawa Art Gallery