The 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø has announced the construction of a new public gallery space to showcase the 10 million-plus objects in the 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø’s 30 collections.
Construction will begin on the new 5,000-square-foot gallery — five times the current gallery space — in July 2025, with an opening exhibition planned for early 2027. The new gallery will be located in the Telus Centre at the intersection of North Campus and the Garneau neighbourhood.
“The U of A collections are exceptional - not just among university collections, but across Canada. The more than 10 million pieces housed among our 30 collections stand alongside the best in the world,” said Bill Flanagan, U of A president. “Now, with this new space, we can offer original and innovative exhibitions to showcase these collections in the way that we always hoped for.”
The gallery will be named the Kenneth and Sandra Wong Gallery, the president announced at a recent event. The name honours the lead donors to the project: Kenneth and Sandra Wong, along with their children Vincent and Emily — both U of A grads.
It is donors who made the project possible, says Dale Askey, vice-provost and chief librarian — a fact that demonstrates broad support for a space to host the U of A’s collections. “Our collections will allow us to do really grand things — it is sponsorships and philanthropic gifts that allow us to work at that level,” says Askey. Gallery programming and the sustainability of the gallery will also be made possible through philanthropy.
Photo: Architect’s drawings of new gallery space in Telus Centre. (Design is not final and may be subject to revisions and alterations as the project progresses.) Photo supplied.
The new gallery will serve as a gathering space for the community, says Askey. In addition to engaging exhibitions, the gallery will allow for more interactive learning experiences, workshops, lectures and events. Askey also envisions opportunities to bring in more school groups and offer summer programs.
It will also create more opportunities for U of A students, including hands-on learning opportunities, and more internships and job opportunities. This can help students develop marketable skills such as curating, researching or planning exhibits, says Askey.
“It’s going to be really transformative.”
The gallery will meet the highest museum standards, which will allow the U of A to showcase objects from major museums and galleries around the world. The new space will also offer space for special events, lectures and presentations.