The renewed Art Gallery of Greater Victoria will:

• Redefine the AGGV within the region through inspired new facilities, programs, and events that raise its profile and role within the region – providing a centre for inspiration, innovation, and engagement of the arts;
• Respond to the evolving nature of the art world by anticipating and embracing technology, and other emerging concepts for the 21st century art gallery experience;
• Provide welcoming and dynamic public spaces to engage and inspire visitors to “bring art to life” by actively participating in special events, lectures, films, classes, art performances, and the digital art world;
• Grow and broaden educational and public programs for children, families, and adults throughout the region;
• Provide climate-controlled space for preservation of its world-class art collection for future generations, and improve the seismic performance of its structures;
• Increase visitation, and the diversity and participation, by all sectors and communities within the region by engaging the region’s communities, and focusing on programs, activities, and events that encourage underrepresented visitors;
• Promote and grow cultural tourism at the AGGV and within the region;
  Strengthen partnerships and increase engagement with educational institutions;
• Be a centre for creativity that will cultivate, develop, and support regional artists; and
  Promote our world-class Asian art collection as a means to foster exchanges between east and west.

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria “brings art to life” in the Victoria region, and for visitors from across Canada and around the world, through exhibitions, publications, education and public programming, research, its virtual gallery, and special community events.
The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is:

• BC’s second largest gallery;
• The province’s largest art collection, featuring over 18,000 works;
• Proud of its over 60 years of service to the region;
• A leader in outreach, collaborating with three universities (the University of Victoria, Royal Roads University, and Vancouver Island University), Camosun College, and five local school districts;
• One of the largest and finest Asian art collections in North America;
• In demand, reaching over 250,000 people annually;
• Expanding its programs to meet the needs of the growing Capital Region population: Reaching tens of thousands of art patrons by touring parts of the collection provincially, nationally, and internationally;
• Increasing participation rates, with a 75% increase in event participation since the last building improvements in 1988; and
• Recognized for prudent financial management with 60% self-generated revenue.

The Next Gallery will, in essence, place a Vancouver Island-manufactured space-frame above the existing gallery building, that will to create a second floor with an additional 12,400 sf of gallery space. By extending somewhat beyond the existing building, the facility footprint will not change materially, but an increase in space will be maximized.

This new space will provide much needed additional gallery space. and replace most of the existing storage space with an efficient, safe, climate-controlled area for the AGGV collection. Other changes will further enhance the aesthetics and utility of the facility. A new lecture space will improve programming immensely. By replacing the current lobby with a two-storey glass space, the east fa<;:ade of the mansion will be fully revealed. There will be level connections with both the first and second floors of the mansion, and the entry will be moved to the Moss Street side of the building, improving flow. The existing, but underused, Asian Garden will be redesigned. and the existing Garry Oak meadows on the property will be maintained and enhanced.

The concept aims to connect and celebrate the history and qualities of the site through the addition of engaging new public and exhibition areas, while using the existing building components to their best advantage. The new upper galleries are intended to float cloud­like, nestled within the Garry Oak canopy, with a textured stainless steel enclosure that reflects its environment.

The renovation will include removal of several seismically unstable building elements, and a seismic upgrade to the mansion’s foundation, as well as improvements to workspaces and loading bay access. The project will be built to LEED® environmental standards.

To bring The Next Gallery to realization, the project budget and capital funding requirement totals $30 million to be shared between the Provincial and Federal Governments and public support.

The AGGV recognizes the importance of effective governance and project management in bringing a major capital project from concept to completion. as well as on time, and on budget. The Next Gallery project structure is being overseen by the AGGV’s Board of Directors. with the Facilities Committee responsible for the design and construction. and the Advancement Committee in charge of fundraising. The Finance Committee monitors all expenses and revenues before presentation to the Board. A full consultant team has already been chosen through open, transparent procurement processes to ensure that all aspects of the project are effectively managed.

This project structure, along with clear approval and risk management practices, will ensure:

• Capital and operating cost control; Accountability; and Transparency

It is the recommendation of this Business Case that the project be approved for capital funding by the Province of British Columbia, together with the proposed Project Schedule and required cash flow.