The Gibsons Public Art Gallery has taken a major step towards securing the long-term future of professional art exhibition on the Sunshine Coast, with the purchase of the property it currently occupies at 431 Marine Dr. in Gibsons.
This acquisition was made possible by the generous bequest of Eve Smart, a volunteer and early supporter of the Gallery. The Gibsons Public Art Gallery is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization, founded in 2003 by a group of Sunshine Coast residents interested in promoting art exhibition and education. In the 12 years since its first show, the Gallery has become a local public institution and the Coast’s premiere art exhibition space, with a diverse year-round schedule that primarily features the work of local artists. More than 14,000 people visited the gallery in 2014, making it one of the top visitor attractions for the entire Sunshine Coast.
The directors of the Gibsons Public Art Gallery would like to thank the Maragos family for their understanding and support throughout the negotiation process, as well as all of the sponsors, donors, members, volunteers and grantors that have contributed to the Gallery’s ongoing success.
Owning the property will provide the community with a permanent fine arts centre and allow the Gallery to expand into unused rooms and exterior spaces of the former Bank of Montreal building.
