Curator, Ottawa Art Gallery
As Interim Manager of ART Rental and Sales at the Ottawa Art Gallery I am in constant contact with emerging and well-established contemporary artists in the Ottawa community. I enjoy researching the local arts scene, executing programming such as exhibitions and artists talks, and being involved in the formation of strong communal relationships. I am passionate about developing a career in the arts, and my studies at Carleton University equipped me with the tools I needed to make this important first step. The faculty and staff of the Art History Department were personable and supportive, as well as valuable resources for information and education. My peers were both inspiring scholars and good friends. I was encouraged to extend my research beyond the campus library and engage with the wealth of local and national institutions existing in Ottawa. I sourced material in the National Gallery of Canada archives, handled and examined Aboriginal artifacts at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, toured significant architectural buildings, and visited local galleries. I was able to do my practicum at the Carleton University Art Gallery on campus where I presented my research findings to director Sandra Dyck to be used as support material for exhibitions and publications while engaging with the invaluable permanent collection. The quality of the exhibitions at CUAG stimulated my research interests and my admiration for gallery practices and the professionals working there. I gained additional practical experience in my Museum Studies course when our class traveled to the Guggenheim in New York to study exhibition programming and design. The theoretical and practical skills I developed throughout my studies at Carleton have prepared me for the job I currently hold at the Ottawa Art Gallery, where I am constantly engaging, supporting and promoting the vibrant local arts community that I have come to love.