After a long closure due to COVID-19, Allen Sapp Gallery is back open as of July 13, and is open to the public daily between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily.
In correspondence sent out to gallery members on Aug, 8, curator and manager of galleries Leah Garven noted some of the changes in gallery operations.
She noted that two new full-time senior gallery assistants were hired in February. One is Lynn Stace who has worked at Museum Windsor, and will be responsible for programming, audience development, collections management, gift shop, administration, gallery policy, and visitor reception.
The other hire was Misa Nikolic who is also from Edmonton. Nikolic also holds the role of Archivist with the city of North Battleford, a position that was reinstated by the city this year. Nikolic will spend one and a half days at Archives, and assist Garven the rest of the time with gallery advertising, programming, collections management, administration, and visitor reception.
Garven noted that on March 20 the Allen Sapp Gallery and the Chapel Gallery were temporarily closed, and all staff were laid off.
A special council meeting was held in June where it was decided Allen Sapp Gallery would re-open. On July 6, some Gallery Staff were re-called including Garven, Stace and Nikolic. Six Casual Gallery Staff have not been re-called.
A number of changes are in place, according to Garven’s correspondence to members. The Chapel Gallery will remain closed until at least the end of 2020 but will still be available to rent, they will not be operating with their full compliment of staff; lower level of the Allen Sapp Gallery, known as the Storytelling Room and Programming Room, will be re-organized to accommodate smaller art display; and larger exhibitions scheduled for The Chapel Gallery are canceled.
As well, Allen Sapp Gallery will become cashless except for admission to the gallery, and the gift shop will be phased out to carry only Allen Sapp prints, postcards, and special interest books. A Volunteer Program will be developed to assist with gallery programming.
