Gallery X is operated by a volunteer Board of Directors and numerous volunteers who strongly believe in our vision of both a digital and physical public gallery space for Scarborough, the borough on the East side of Toronto, one of our great Canadian cities.
A Toronto City Councillor had recommended to the Board an area of 5,000 square feet with the expectation that as we continue to grow, we look to locate in one of the new, modern developments taking place in Scarborough. Since our incorporation, we have begun the process of establishing Federal Charitable Status as well as our online presence through this website. We are providing this unique online gallery as a service to artists and Art Societies (at a nominal cost), and to gain recognition in the local, national, and international community.
A Vision to Support Our Purpose
In pursuit of our aim, we have established this website, galleryxscarborough.com, and are growing the site to include shows and demonstrations, instructional videos, educational webinars, lessons, information and links - all to promote Visual Arts at the highest level.
We are working on the planning and construction of a world-class public art gallery in Scarborough, Ontario. We will hire and train Arts professionals and other support people committed to the excellence of the programs that we will offer and who represent the diversity reflected in our population. In that respect, we will be addressing youth and adult unemployment by providing employment-related skills, programs, conferences, and workshops. As we develop, we will be able to create residency programs that will assist in our endeavour to educate the community through the creation of and appreciation for The Arts.
Our vision is to build a bricks-and-mortar hub of excellence in The Arts by creating a culturally sensitive artistic space that will not only represent the people of Scarborough, but the nation as a whole in a distinct, welcoming environment. We intend to be a significant leader in the areas of cultural inclusion and environmental sustainability through lenses of enduring Indigenous Recognition, Environmental Stewardship, and Social Wellbeing.
With our first lens, Indigenous Recognition, we are committed to the inclusion of rights, respect, cooperation, and partnership with the Original Peoples of this land. It is understood that education and The Arts are cornerstones of Reconciliation. Art can be a transformative, healing and empowering expression of recovery (1). We acknowledge we are hosted on the lands of the Mississaugas of the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Wendat. We also recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis and the Inuit peoples.
“Nous reconnaissons que nous sommes accueillis sur les terres des Mississaugas des Anichinabés, de la Confédération Haudenosaunee et du Wendat. Nous voulons également reconnaître la pérennité de la présence des Premières Nations, des Métis et des Inuit.”(2)
Our second lens, Environmental Stewardship, pays tribute to the unique, natural environment of Scarborough. Situated at the top of the Scarborough Bluffs on the east side of Toronto, we are crisscrossed with waterways and greenbelts that provide respite from the high-density urban areas housed within our borders. Along with The Bluffs, we are a proud home to the Toronto Zoo, the Rouge Park, and the Meadoways which make us the greenest area of Toronto. We embrace the opportunity to encompass environmentally sustainable practices with operations that will grow to include carbon-neutral programming in all we do.
Finally, our lens of Social well-being identifies Scarborough as a popular destination for new immigrants in Canada since the 1700s. As a result, Scarborough has become one of the most diverse and multicultural areas in the Greater Toronto region. Scarborough truly represents Canada from its Indigenous roots to its modern manifestation. The Existential Art Gallery of Scarborough will not simply be a place to explore The Arts but a place where people can meet, connect, learn, exchange ideas, grow, and build a stronger, more united community as we reveal the Secrets of Scarborough: Our Story Through Art.
(1) National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, University of Manitoba.
(2) The Urban Indigenous Community Advisory Committee of the Toronto District School Board.
Business Plan Synopsis
Even though a more detailed, lengthy, and comprehensive business plan exists it was felt that a synopsis of the plan should be available on this website for all to give a ‘once-over’.
Specifically the plan summarizes our aims and objectives and how we are setting to achieve them over the short and long term. First, we are, at present, completely unfunded, however, applications for funding have been made or are in progress, so the unfunded situation could change with an approval in the near future. Having completed three years of progress we are looking forward to a very successful 2022.
Our efforts began in 2018 when public gallery space was severely shrinking for artists and major provincial and national art associations. Expanding on public gallery space is a long process so our expectations are well thought out, and we are expecting an interesting journey to a future bricks and mortar structure of significance. Goal revisions have resulted from the effects of the pandemic, but the positive side of that is we have developed good abilities to produce virtual exhibitions and that segment of gallery growth will be a permanent and significant part of our present year, and our future programming.
In short, our business plan includes a redesigned and more comprehensive website, already well under way, putting our business plan to use in raising sponsors and completing grant applications, adding to our volunteers and our membership, and most importantly mounting a new schedule of exhibitions for our members and the public.
A fuller, and much more detailed version of our business plan will certainly be available on request.
Peter Marsh
Interim President
Board of Directors
The Existential Art Gallery of Scarborough
Peter.marsh@galleryxscarborough.com
Petermarshpainter.blogspot.com
@marshpainter
