Even with a good book and a hot cup of coffee, the time spent waiting for a flight can sometimes seem a bit dull, but thanks to a recent partnership between the Victoria Airport Authority and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, passengers waiting in the upper departure lounge can peruse an engaging selection of local art.
Displaying art is nothing new for the VAA; the Art at the Airport program began in 2001, designed to bring local pieces together with local and international travellers.
But during the VAA’s extensive improvements, extra space was found in the upper hold room, right around the time that the AGGV needed to branch out to make room for their own renovations downtown.
“The airport has always wanted to promote our art and culture in the airport itself,” said James Bogusz, vice-president of operations and development at the VAA. “With this space being available, we saw an opportunity to reach out and connect with the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and hopefully help them with their space requirements. And we now have a beautiful display.”
“It’s a stunning collection of local art that showcases our region and the skill and range of our artists,” said Jon Tupper, director of the AGGV.
The AGGV first opened in 1951, and has almost 18,000 works of art — the largest public collection in B.C.
The partnership between the VAA and the AGGV is currently for two years but supporting the local arts scene is something the VAA is committed to continuing.
“We definitely want to keep space available in the terminal, especially for arts locally,” said Bogusz.
The artwork is for sale, and interested patrons can call 250-384-4171 or visit http://aggv.ca/rental-sales/faq.
