For more than seventy years, the Gallery Associates have been a key support for the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, organizing creative fundraising events, and engaging the community, highlight the importance of cultural activities, ensuring the arts continue to thrive and inspire future generations. In this article, Lynda Phillipson, Gallery Associates Second Vice President, shares some recent successes, and elaborates on the benefits of joining their team of dedicated volunteers.

Following another year of successful fundraising campaigns on behalf of the AGGV, the Gallery Associates were delighted to present a cheque of $61,000 to Ellen Manning, AGGV Director of Development & Marketing, at the June 2025 AGM. After consultation with Staff and presentation of the AGGV’s ideas for the allocation of the funds, the Associates have chosen to add their support to two upcoming exhibits: Fifty Shades of Ink: Ink Paintings from the AGGV Collection, curated by Dr. Heng Wu, AGGV Curator of Asian Art, opening in December of 2025, and the Gallery’s major summer 2026 show, an historical exhibition curated by Steven McNeil, AGGV Chief Curator & Director of Exhibitions.

Image Credit: Larissa Ciupka, Gallery Associates First Vice President, presents a fundraising cheque to Ellen Manning, AGGV Director of Development & Marketing, 2025. Courtesy of the Gallery Associates.

The Gallery Associates, who have begun gearing up for the coming year, as well as planning celebrations for their seventy-fifth anniversary in 2027, once again remind Gallery Members that they are always welcome to join the Associates in their support of the AGGV’s programs and initiatives. The group is often celebrated as being “fun-raising” as much as fundraising, because they create numerous friendship-building activities exclusive to their membership while building and donating from a healthy bank balance year after year.

Image Credit: An ink painting to be featured in the upcoming exhibition, Fifty Shades of Ink: Ink Paintings from the AGGV Collection. Okada Hanko (Japanese, 1782 – 1846), Sailboat on an Inky River, 1825 – 1846 P, ink, 30.4 x 42.1 cm. Gift of Mr. & Mrs. R. W. Finlayson Toronto, AGGV1978.266.001. Courtesy of the AGGV.

The Gallery Associates meet every second Friday of the month for ten months of the year. During those meetings, they enjoy reports from Gallery Staff, special speakers on subjects related to art and artists, as well as time to socialize after the business meetings. In addition, they organize regular excursions to local studios, art shows and galleries, and are offered two private, guided tours of current exhibits by Steven McNeil, AGGV Chief Curator and Director of Exhibitions, each year.

Image Credit: The Gallery Associates’ guided art tour to France in 2024, one of their many fundraisers in support of the AGGV. Courtesy of the Gallery Associates.

On the first Monday of the month, a Book Club discusses books on themes related to current exhibits, and on the final Monday, members are invited to join Monday Art Docs, which explores documentaries related to art and artists. Also, Happenings, a newsletter produced six times a year, keeps the Associates informed as to their numerous activities, and the Gallery’s Gift Shop offers them a 10% discount on purchases.

– Written by Lynda Phillipson, Gallery Associates Second Vice President

 

Interested in joining the Gallery Associates? Visit their page on the AGGV website by clicking below, or inquire at associates@aggv.ca with “Membership” in the subject line.
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Feature Image: The Gallery Associates in a fundraising planning session, 2025. Courtesy of the Gallery Associates.