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Definitely Superior Art GalleryThunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Definitely Superior Art Gallery
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The first late-80's wave is now a basic imprint of memory - the importance of socio-political informed art by local artists unafraid to confront the public. The oral history of remaining founders and gallery archives remind them about the incendiary protest performance works enacted by First Nations and founding member artists (a notable example is the work of Rebecca Belmore). Through the mid-90's links were forged with the Lakehead University Visual Arts. A greater commitment evolved to engage a broader audience and to use the space as a site of activity and investigation, as well as exhibitions. The Artist as Curator Workshop (June 94), resulted in the centre's development as a curatorial collective.16
Definitely Superior Art GalleryThunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Definitely Superior Art Gallery
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The collective now constitutes the third wave in terms of Definitely Superior's group identity. The centre has evolved from a site of exhibition to a place of investigation and activity, and currently a greater commitment is being enacted to engage a broader audience through innovative outreach and multi-disciplinary programs proven highly successful in spurring and expanding the centre's development as a creative hub for generating collective/collaborative projects. In recent history, their membership has grown substantially and become more diverse in terms of medium/modes of expression through multi-disciplinary art forms and bring an enthusiasm about traversing the now traditional boundaries of contemporary art.18
Definitely Superior Art GalleryThunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Definitely Superior Art Gallery
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Definitely Superior maintains a high level of programming and continues to be progressively successful in generating a dynamic visual and interdisciplinary expansion -an interweaving infusion of the new in contemporary arts and culture that stimulates both artists and audiences. Expanding audience base, diversifying revenue resources and finding new means of reaching the public is something the gallery has manifested real by taking advantage of new opportunities in a shared vision of artistry, community and sustainability.20
Definitely Superior Art GalleryThunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Definitely Superior Art Gallery
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The gallery has seen a 600% overall increase in the past decade in budget-funding/programming/artists/members and audience. They understand that contemporary artists must be pro-active not re-active in the face of challenging sociopolitical circumstances, i.e. using the centre as a base, they must bring contemporary art to the community and address the issues of audience development, instead of complacently waiting for the community to come to them. Expanding audience base, diversifying revenue resources and finding new means of reaching the public is something the gallery has manifested real by taking advantage of new opportunities in a shared vision of artistry, community and sustainability.22
Definitely Superior Art GalleryThunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Definitely Superior Art Gallery
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Definitely Superior Art Gallery has been acknowledged most recently [2010] at both the provincial and national levels for being selected as one of only 6 finalists for the prestigious Ontario Premier's Award For Excellence In The Arts. This is the first time an arts organization has been acknowledged from not only Thunder Bay, but all of Northwestern Ontario. As well, they are the first visual art gallery to be a finalist in all of Ontario over the award's 4 year history.24
Definitely Superior Art GalleryThunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Definitely Superior Art Gallery
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Their innovative programming which they refer to as "New Art Actions," particularly their annual "Urban Infill-Art In The Core" 20 project series (Jan-Apr) has also been acknowledged [2007] through ArtsVest/Ontario Trillium Foundation/The Council For Business And The Arts and Ontario Ministry of Culture, in terms of artistic excellence, outreach audience and artist participation statistics, and qualitative participatory results/feedback. The gallery was also the recipient of The City of Thunder Bay Arts & Heritage Award for Organization in 2005.For more information please visit:
www.definitelysuperior.com
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Thunder Bay Art GalleryThunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Thunder Bay Art Gallery
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THUNDER BAY ART GALLERYThe Thunder Bay Art Gallery has stood as a prominent exhibition venue in Canada for many generations and holds significant history with some of Canada's most famous artists. As a non-profit, public art gallery, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery exhibits, collects and interprets art with a particular focus on the work of Canadian Aboriginal and Northwestern Ontario artists. The Gallery advances the relationship between artists, their art and the public, nurturing a life-long appreciation of contemporary visual arts among residents of and visitors to Thunder Bay. With three gallery spaces that change exhibitions approximately every 6 weeks, there is always something new to capture the public's imagination.
In addition to an ambitious exhibition schedule, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery offers a wide range of educational programs and community outreach services. Art classes for all ages, visiting artist lectures and workshops, and a unique Gift Shop are all part of the Thunder Bay Art Gallery experience. The Gallery is especially proud of their Youth Arts Council program. This program was started in 2006 and ran for several years and is currently under re-construction to accommodate the students and their educational needs. This program allowed children and young adults to create and display group projects as well as expand on their personal artistic growth.
Arts Access is another way the Thunder Bay Art Gallery is able to impact the fantastic art community of Thunder Bay. Arts Access is a three-year community arts initiative designed to increase public involvement with art through a broad range of community-driven creative projects. Arts Access involves a partnership between art galleries in four municipalities, including Toronto, Thunder Bay, Brantford/Six Nations and Kitchener-Waterloo.
A defining characteristic of Arts Access is that it involves professional artists working as the facilitators of community art projects. These artists not only provide skills and expertise, but they also provide a vital link between community and the Thunder Bay Art Gallery. Within the context of Arts Access it is the artist's role to build relationships, lead workshops, organize exhibitions, connect public and community collections and make the completed work accessible to a larger audience through the Arts Access website "Collection X."
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