In January 2014, the five-year-old Coast Collective Arts Centre at Esquimalt Lagoon will evolve into a non-profit enterprise as part of the Society for Arts on the South Island. Founding directors Deborah Czernecky, Marcela Strasdas and Sharlene Stushnov-Lee, will stay on to provide continuity and governance for the West Shore visual arts destination. Barbara Giuliany, another of the five original directors, will step away to re-focus on family, travel, and a return to her own creative works.
A new management team will work with the Collective’s associate members to build what SASI is calling “Coast Collective 2.0”. Executive Director Cindy Moyer will lead team 2.0 and co-ordinate arts education programs.
There will be three other program co-ordinators, including one of the Coast Collective’s original team, Terri Rodstrom guiding the evolution of the Coast Collective’s Gift Shop and special projects, which includes the organization’s two-year old Artist-in-Residence Program with Parks Canada at Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites.
Connie Kaziechko, an artist and educator, will bring together a new volunteer working group to drive development of the Coast Collective gallery in historic Pendray House. Completing the new management team is Shannon Oatway, a communications professional and former photojournalist with the Calgary Herald.
Over the next few months, the new management team will form working groups, hitting the ground running on Jan. 8 with their first gallery show, Beginnings 2014.
For more information go to www.coastcollective.ca.