Lethbridge has evolved from North Western Coal & Navigation's "company town" to a city that supports a diverse economic base and population. Wealthy patrons helped to establish cultural institutions such as the Genevive E. Yates Memorial Centre, Galt Gardens and some of the city's oldest churches. A sophistocated cultural community has developed from a prairie mining camp. This small community supports two public galleries and two alternative exhibition spaces as well as the University of Lethbridge fine arts department with it's own acclaimed on-campus gallery and public art collection.
The SAAGs Upper Gallery is located in what was the first public library in Lethbridge. Funding for the building was granted by the Carnegie Foundation in 1909, but was refused by the city until ten years later. The Lethbridge Public Library opened in the Galt Gardens in 1922. In 1952 the extension was added, which is now the Main Gallery, Giftshop and Offices of the SAAG. The Library relocated to new facilities in 1974 and the Southern Alberta Art Gallery Association was reactivated to create a contemporary art gallery in the old space.
The SAAG was the result of careful planning and far sighted vision. Since March 5, 1976, the gallery has programmed activities to "broaden the exposure of southern Albertans to activities in the visual arts..." The programme has examined visual arts on a provincial, national and international level, with the intent of benefitting the local community. The gallery has also publshed an extensive archive of it's programme and the discourse surrounding contemporary art. The activities of the gallery are known across the country.
SAAG is located at:
601 - 3rd Avenue, South
Lethbridge, Alberta
T1J 0H4
(403) 327-8770
E-mail: info@saag.ca
World Wide Web: http://saag.ca
For more information about the city of Lethbridge see the following sites:
Sir Alexander Galt Museum
Lethbridge: History of A Prairie Community
