Fall exhibitions at Casa
Saturday, September 7, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Celebrate the opening of several exhibitions at Casa, featuring works by renowned artists in various gallery spaces:
Main Gallery: Stranded by Nicholas Wade; Human Relations/Carceral Culture by Don Gill
Passage Gallery: Imaginary Racetracks by Emily Metherel
Platform Project Space: Work by Serene Weasel Traveller
Project Space: Emergent Materialisms by Nicole Riedmueller
Concourse Gallery: Hotel Room Art/New General Catalogue by Melissa Fry
Saokitapi Gallery: Niitoyis (Home) – Matthew Provost
Focus Gallery: Jazz, Exposed – Donna Kroeger
Join us on Saturday, September 7 at 6:00pm in the Casa Community Room for a performance by Artist in Residence Gabrielle Houle and her team!
Plus music by James Oldenberg & Paul Holden
Organizer
The Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge (AAC) was established on March 20, 1958 with the intent of encouraging, coordinating, and promoting the arts in Lethbridge and area. The AAC continues this mission to this day.
The original 16 Allied Members of the AAC were the: Alberta Association of Architects, Alberta Teacher’s Association, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Black & White Photography Club, Classical Record Club, Colour Camera Club, Lethbridge Ballet Auxiliary, Lethbridge Handicraft Guild, Lethbridge Jazz Society, Lethbridge Philosophical Society, Lethbridge Public Library Board, Lethbridge Registered Music Teachers Association, Lethbridge Women’s Music Club, Playgoers of Lethbridge, Quota Club, and University Women’s Club.
In 1964, the City of Lethbridge tasked the AAC with the management of the Bowman Arts Centre. AAC staff provided support to local arts organizations, created multi-disciplinary arts education programming, coordinated the gallery program, and provided a central hub for the arts community.
Throughout the years, the AAC has provided input and advocacy on arts issues including civic arts and culture facilities, the formation of the Southern Alberta Art Gallery, the City of Lethbridge Public Art Policy, the City of Lethbridge Municipal Development Plan, and the City of Lethbridge Recreation and Culture Plan. The organization also programs community events like Arts Days and the Mayor’s Luncheon for Business and the Arts.
In 2009 the administrative staff moved out of the Bowman and into the current administrative offices on 7th Street in downtown Lethbridge. In 2013, the programming staff moved out of the Bowman and into the newly built Casa community arts centre. This purpose-built facility was part of the AAC’s Arts Re: Building Together Campaign, which included advocacy for the renovation of the Southern Alberta Art Gallery facility and a new performing arts centre.
The Allied Arts Council continues to work to advance and enhance the arts at all levels of government and brings support to Lethbridge’s incredibly vibrant arts community.
Casa opened in May of 2013 and has embraced core concepts of experimentation, incubation, learning, and growing. Serving a multi-generational community, with varying art skill sets and interests in all disciplines of the arts, Casa is a busy space. The building far surpasses the original vision for expansion and sets a new standard for interdisciplinary arts centres.
Designing the building was a comprehensive and collaborative process led by Pendergast Nyhoff Collaborative Architecture (PNCA) working in conjunction with the local architectural firm of Ferrari Westwood Babits. The architectural team visited numerous arts education institutions and also met with members of the local arts community to define requirements for a truly functional 42,000 square foot art centre. The resulting building design is truly impressive. Funding for the project were provided by the Federal Build Canada Fund ($6,000,000.), the Provincial MSI Fund ($14,900,000.), and the City of Lethbridge ($200,000).
The Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge manages Casa on behalf of the City of Lethbridge. Learn more about visitor numbers, events and programs in the previous year by reading the Allied Arts Council’s Annual Report.