The Kitimat Museum and Archives is preparing for a major show next year to celebrate the diverse range of Haisla artistry. Anticipated to feature 20 artists, the show represents a significant effort to honor both traditional and contemporary artists.
The museum does feature Haisla art, and it has held large Haisla shows a few times in the past, but Louise Avery, the executive director of the Kitimat Museum and Archives said it’s time to feature more.
“We’ve never featured the big cross-section of Haisla artists, meaning the range of art they’re producing,” Avery said.
“There might be some art that isn’t connected to cultural identity, and that’s fine … all we’re asking is that the artists belong to the Haisla community.”
As conversations advance between the museum and the Haisla Nation Council over a new shared facility to feature all local artists and history, the idea for this show emerged as an opportunity to advance this new commitment to cooperation.
“The time has come to foster a greater relationship between the museum and local Haisla artists,” Avery said. “This is an opportunity for us to move forward with reconciliation. I don’t think we’ve asked enough times in the past for these artists to participate and be featured.”
The museum’s commitment extends beyond the exhibition itself. Organizers plans to produce a high-quality booklet about the show, featuring the artists and their work, with content created by paid Haisla contributors. Additionally, the museum aims to assist artists outside the area with shipping costs. All artists will also be compensated, according to CARFAC standards. Haisla drummers for the opening gala, and the gala itself, will also add to the final budget tally.
Some funding for the exhibition has been secured from several sources, including the Haisla Nation Council, District of Kitimat, Rio Tinto, and LNG Canada, each contributing $5,000. However, the museum continues to seek additional financial support.
The show will run from May 8 to July 13, 2024. Artists from the Haisla community, both established and emerging, are invited to submit their works, whether they are new creations or older pieces. The call for artists is open until Feb. 16, with entry forms available at the museum and online at kitimatmuseum.ca/open-call-for-entry