National gallery strives to broaden its appeal

According to Lisa Howie, who took over as gallery director in 2008, it is also ­helping to educate and encourage the artistic talent within Bermuda.

She said through its permanent collection, exhibitions highlighting local and international art as well as its numerous educational programmes, it has a huge role to play.

Despite this, there seems to be little participation by the ­islanders who live here.

The gallery recently released its annual report that showed only five per cent of Bermuda’s population are members.

Ms Howie admits the gallery is going through a period of significant change in order to help it ­attract a wider and, importantly, a more eclectic slice of the island’s inhabitants.

She said one of the action plans for the next four-year period is to rebrand the BNG as being more inclusive.

“The museum always has a ­status around it that it will draw those who are educated or well travelled.

“That is not something we want to change but at the same time we need to be moving past that small demographic and become more inclusive.

“It is pivotal thinking today in museum studies.”

The addition of Peter Carey as director of development and ­community education to the ­museum’s board is symbolic of this shift.

Mr. Carey, in his role at the Family Centre, works with all walks of Bermuda life.

He said: “Lisa has brought a new sense of urgency to the gallery in terms of art being ­useful to people’s lives and strengthening the community and that is why I am here.”

Along with Ms Howie, he helped to launch the gallery’s hugely popular photographic project for young people — Youth, Camera, Action.

It is open to all youngsters and offers free photography workshops led by a professional ­photographer.

 Mr. Carey said: “We all have pain. Art as part of the community of people working together­ ­creatively gives you a vehicle for learning and letting you know your voice is worthwhile. Youth, Camera, Action is a lifeline for some kids who are longing for a voice.”

Ms Howie added: “We know it is successful and would like for the programme to be facilitated through after school programmes but that hasn’t been officially ­discussed yet.”

Youth, Camera, Action is just one programme that allows the gallery to serve more of a social role.

Back in May the gallery invited internationally renowned cityscape artist Stephen Wiltshire to come and hold an exhibition to raise money for the gallery but also for the autism charity BASE.

The fundraising effort helped to widen the gallery’s role in the community by raising money for a relevant charity.

The gallery has also been working with The Chewstick Foundation as well as the African ­Diaspora Heritage Trail.

It also offers free admission, free school tours and free ­professional development for teachers.

It has a number of free educational programmes such as the student docent programme.

One of the more adventurous events the gallery hopes will help broaden its appeal is a series of international films that will be shown closer to the end of the year.

It will be the first time the gallery has dedicated the majority of its space to screening films.

Ms Howie said: “These films will be from around the world. They are abstract, short films that draw on issues of say — lack of water, neglect, labour or social chaos. They will take us to ­different places in the world.

“What is interesting to us is how we continue to transform the gallery.

“It is important that we as the National Gallery continue to lead the way in terms of what art gets shown, how it gets shown, and to what depth it gets.

“We have the board that ­supports these daring moves.”

Ms. Howie is open about the fact that it is not just the desire to be more inclusive that has driven this push  — but also the state of the economy — which not only effects the Bermuda National Gallery but galleries and ­museums the world over. 

She said: “The recession has forced museums to rethink everything they are doing.

“They are moving themselves away from some static identity and are looking at what is ­happening in their communities.

Ms Howie added from what she has read has encouraged her “that we are on the right track with connecting to social ­services”. 

For more information aboutthe Bermuda National Gallery ­visit the website on: www.bermudanationalgallery.com