Edmonton, AB. The Art Gallery of Alberta knows the importance of community and is welcoming new citizens into Alberta’s visual arts community. The “Citizens of Art” program kicks off at 10:30 am this Canada Day at the Canadian Citizenship Ceremony taking place at the Alberta Legislature, where Art Gallery of Alberta Executive Director Tony Luppino will greet over 100 new citizens and present them with AGA memberships.
The idea for this program emerged from the Art Gallery of Ontario’s pilot project “Citizen AGO”, which presented new Canadians with a complimentary one-year family membership to the Gallery. The Art Gallery of Alberta saw this as a positive way for Canadians to share in the cross-cultural diversity exemplified through the arts and Canada’s cultural geography.
“The visual arts offer an illustrated look into Canada’s past and present. Art is a very special means of communication that surpasses verbal language—everyone can gain meaning from it, no matter what language they speak,” says Tony Luppino. “The AGA is pleased to participate in this fantastic program.”
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the 1947 Canadian Citizenship Act, which granted official citizenship to Canadian residents for the first time. Through the AGA’s “Citizens of Art” Program, the Gallery aims to cultivate relationships with the newest members of Alberta’s diverse cultural community.