There have recently been two very good articles in The Chief and its Discover Squamish magazine about art venues and the arts in our community. In both, among the many challenges and opportunities mentioned, the future of the Brackendale Art Gallery was discussed. What will that be?
I used to say, “Thor, it’s like being the Pope, you can’t retire – you have to die.” Then the Pope retired and we started thinking seriously about the succession.
That was 2013. Thor was 80 then and the job wasn’t getting easier. Could we sell the BAG or, as we most fervently wished, see it onto a new life as a public amenity? We simultaneously worried and hoped that putting the Gallery up for sale would cause a public uproar, some wailing in the streets. But what we have mostly received is heartfelt condolences and ‘total understanding’, so far not the groundswell required to convince our current municipal council to take the project on.
So here we are hoping for a miracle, some entity with the heart and the resources to take the BAG into the future, whatever that may be.
It is still our hope that this iconic building and site, the dream into which Thor has poured all his energy and resources for 48 years, might continue to serve the community as an arts and nature centre, meeting place and neighbourhood hub and that the community will support whatever enterprise, private or public takes it on into that future.
Over the years, the BAG has hosted many hundreds of concerts, art exhibits, family celebrations, community meetings and gatherings. We are eternally grateful to our wonderful community of supporters, friends and volunteers. Thor will be 85 in March. We have had a great life here and it is very hard to think that we must leave it behind, but leave it we must.
We don’t yet know what is in store for the BAG but in the meantime we carry on. While waiting for that miracle we will still be here programming more great events and activities in the months to come. We hope to see you all here soon.
