Yarmouth art gallery temporarily reopens for World Acadian Congress

The Yarmouth location of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia has temporarily reopened for the World Acadian Congress this month. But the chair of a non-profit that supports the western branch would like to see it remain open longer.

In May, the provincial art gallery announced it would not reopen its Yarmouth location due to financial reasons. The western gallery was open year-round until 2020, but was scaled back to a seasonal operation.

The decision to keep it closed this summer sparked an outcry in the town and a campaign to reverse it.

But after working with the Department of Public Works, Jo Ann Ranson and volunteers with the Friends of the AGNS Western Branch Society got permission to host an exhibit at the site to coincide with the World Acadian Congress.

“We were able to negotiate a month opening and in no time, the volunteers put together this amazing, amazing Nelson Surette exhibit,” Ranson told CBC Radio’s Information Morning Halifax on Wednesday.

“We wanted to make sure that there was something in the summer during tourist season so visitors from the ferry and the congrès would have a wonderful exhibit to enjoy.”

The World Acadian Congress, or le Congrès mondial acadien, kicked off in southwestern Nova Scotia on Saturday. Tens of thousands of people have descended on the area for the nine-day gathering.

A spokesperson with the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia said it was not involved in the opening of the new exhibit.

“We are pleased that the community was able to use the former AGNS space for a temporary exhibit during the World Acadian Congress,” an emailed statement said.

The statement added that the art gallery will not be maintaining a physical location in Yarmouth, but it will continue to serve the western region through several art programs.

Exhibit opened Aug. 3

Ranson said she got the keys to the gallery on Aug. 1 and the new exhibit opened on Aug. 3.

It features a private collection of paintings by Acadian artist Nelson Surette. His artwork is described as an “expressive portrayal of the life and work in Southwest Nova Scotia.”

“It is world class. We have a dory in the middle of the exhibit. We have hand-done antique nets in the exhibit … and the wonderful paintings of Nelson Surrette.”

Ranson said the exhibit has already drawn nearly 600 visitors from all around the world, including France, Germany, Vancouver Island and Minnesota.

“The exhibit is sensational and … we’re collecting audiences from all walks of life. You know, we have artists, which always come, but we have lots of fishermen coming in, and Acadians are coming in, and the community is very supportive,” she said.

Ranson said given the success of this exhibit, she’s hopeful the province will extend the opening into September.

She said she’s already booked about 20 schools to visit the exhibit next month. She said workshops have also been planned.

“We are very hopeful. We are being proactive and thinking that we can [extend it],” she said.

She said the visitor centre and call centre in the same building remain open, so it makes sense to utilize the exhibit space.

“Those two rooms that we have would be just sitting empty, so why not have this wonderful activity with the community? Why not create this interesting [exhibit] on Main Street.”

A spokesperson with the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, which oversees the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, said they could not comment on whether the exhibit would be extended.