The last few years have ushered in big changes for The New Gallery (TNG), Calgary’s oldest artist-run centre. After its 2007 move to Eau Claire Market and recent speculation that the downtown mall will be torn down in coming months, TNG has announced the arrival of Tim Westbury as its new program director. Amidst this uncertainty about the physical location of the gallery, Westbury’s experience as a multidisciplinary artist in Calgary and his past positions at The Banff Centre for the Arts will help him meet the challenges of the artist-run working environment.

Westbury says it’s a community that he feels a strong commitment to, from his early days “taking part in the media festivals at The New Gallery, like Media Blitz, to a show at Stride when Shelley Ouellet was director, and now working as a board member of EMMEDIA.” Speaking on his decision to accept the TNG posting, he says, “it’s a positive time for the arts scene, with some really good people working here. There is also an incredible energy from Calgary’s emerging artists, so it is a good time to jump back in with both feet.” With Westbury’s strong interest in alternative spaces and performance, we can watch for TNG to become more involved with M:ST Performative Art Festival, and announce yet another new gallery location over the summer.