Artistic Vision
The Thames Art Gallery’s vision is to be an institution that celebrates creative excellence – a gallery that is respected and popular because of its involvement in and contributions to the Chatham-Kent community and the arts community at large. The artistic priorities that provide the framework for Thames Art Gallery's curatorial activities emphasize education, reflection on community, present opportunities, and provide context.
Contribution to the Art Form and Artistic Field
The Thames Art Gallery’s primary curatorial activity is to research, organize and present exhibitions and art related programs of contemporary Canadian art that are relevant, innovative, and scholarly. Curatorial activities support an atmosphere that encourages an appreciation and comprehension of the visual arts and offer opportunities to present discourse on contemporary culture.A curatorial priority is the development of electronic media/installation/interactive projects that challenge the Gallery’s audience and encourage reflection on the particularities and issues of modern culture, both on a local and national level. These exhibition programs present alternative views of the world they live in, and allow them to see everything with contemporary eyes.
Contribution to the Development of Artists
The Thames Art Gallery supports local, regional and national visual artists through the development and presentation of solo and group exhibitions and related publications. The Gallery supports arts professionals by contracting their services as guest curators, writers, designers and editors for exhibition projects and as art educators/instructors and speakers for art classes/lectures in the Gallery and outreach programs. The Gallery also seeks out performing artists, creative writers and musicians for interdisciplinary presentations.
Contribution to the Public
The Thames Art Gallery involvement with the Chatham-Kent community extends outside of the Gallery. The Gallery partners with community groups and organizations in the development of projects that are mutually beneficial. The Gallery, in collaboration with the Chatham-Kent library, has developed an Arts Library – the books are collected through donations and purchases and are catalogued by Library staff and included in their electronic database that is available on-line. The collection is housed in the Art Gallery’s library/resource centre. The Gallery, in partnership with the Chatham chapter of the Canadian Diabetes Society, hosts a biannual fundraising event – Eye For Art, and in 2006 raised over $12,000 that was shared equally.