Calgary’s art scene is in the process of getting a bold facelift, with a new visual arts centre planned for the new year.

The 15,000-square-foot space, to be called the Esker Foundation, is set to open in early 2012 and is the work of local philanthropists and art patrons Jim and Susan Hill. The centre will be located in the Atlantic Art Block in Inglewood, which was chosen for its easy access to downtown.

“It will benefit the public in so many ways,” says Alex Keim, gallery director for the Esker Foundation. “It’s really accessible, so there’ll be a lot of different kinds of support systems put into place. The public can access the exhibitions that are there, understand them, research them and ask questions.”

Keim says the foundation’s goal is to showcase exhibitions that are easily accessible to the public, all of which will be free of charge, with a transition every couple of months. The gallery follows the model of many European galleries, Keim says, adding she calls the Esker Foundation a miniature Tate Modern, which is a contemporary art gallery in London.

“They’ll really have the opportunity to have exhibitions and artists that have not had a lot of profile in Alberta and in Calgary,” she says. “It will also give us the opportunity to work with the amazing talent we have both in Calgary and in Alberta.”

In addition to displaying a variety of work from established and emerging local talent, the Esker Foundation will work with artists from various regions: 50 per cent from Western Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon), 25 per cent from the rest of Canada, and 35 per cent from other countries.

Esker Foundation’s first exhibition, The New Alberta Contemporaries (curated by Caterina Pizanias), will showcase 44 young artists who are graduating from art programs at the University of Lethbridge, the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta and the Alberta College of Art and Design.

“This exhibition will probably run every two years. It gives a real springboard and real support to young artists who are just graduating,” Keim says.

The foundation values education in conjunction with presenting exceptional art exhibits, and the plan is to have auxiliary programs tailored to current exhibitions.

The Esker Foundation will be a fresh new venue for the Calgary art scene, but Keim says it will also enhance what already exists in the city. Plans are in the works for collaborative projects with museums, commercial art galleries and artisan centres.

Keim says the foundation will be receiving “A Level” status within the first year of opening, which will allow the gallery to hold exhibitions of historical importance, while meeting environmental standards through design considerations. Keim hopes the shows will be a catalyst for artistic dialogue in the community.

“There’s historical dialogue that goes into whatever we create on a contemporary basis, so I think that dialogue between the two can create more dialogue and an interesting and different way of looking at things,” she says.

Ecological consciousness is important to the Hill family, and the foundation operates within a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver master plan created by Abukov Kaspar Architects, meaning it leaves a minimal carbon footprint and operates in an ecological efficient manner.