The Art Gallery of Burlington (AGB) is excited to share the next chapter in its evolution with the unveiling of its Facility Master Plan and Future Needs Feasibility Study. The plan was developed with the expertise of Lord Cultural Resources and Brook McIlroy Architects. The comprehensive vision, titled The Power of Place: Reimagining the AGB for the Next Century, outlines a transformative redevelopment of the AGB’s existing site, reinforcing its role as a cultural anchor, community hub, and destination for all.

Art galleries play a vital role in the public sphere. They provide a space for dialogue, intellectual discovery, and social connection, and they serve as activity centers for contemplation, creativity, education, and participation.

It is with deep gratitude and great excitement that I share with you our 2024 Impact Report. This year has been a remarkable chapter in our ongoing evolution—a year marked by creativity, growth, and a renewed sense of purpose as we continue to serve as a cultural cornerstone in Burlington and the surrounding region.

In 2023, we enthusiastically returned to in-person gatherings, curated exhibitions featuring local and national artists, conducted interactive workshops and classes, and planned and executed numerous outreach activities and events. We diversified our audiences by expanding our artistic programming and building solid relationships with local associations, institutions, and organizations.

2022 began with the doors closed. Indeed, the pulse of a Public Art Gallery comes from the activations, connections and experiences that happen in the physical realm as people gather to see, learn, think and make. But the pandemic taught us that galleries are resilient spaces, filled with innovation, opportunities, and learning – and although our doors being closed limited physical access, it didn’t limit our commitment to drive meaningful engagement.

Let us consider all that we have witnessed and endured in the past year:  a global pandemic and recovery, political turmoil, and racial reckoning that has touched the lives and hearts of so many. It is indeed difficult to find words to adequately express what we have experienced, this message is simply one of gratitude. I want to express my thanks for all that we have accomplished together to keep the AGB moving forward in a sustainable and relevant way.

Since 2020 the COVID 19 Pandemic has continued to challenge organizations including the AGB. We are now facing a fourth wave propelled by the Delta variant. The AGB continues to adapt and develop, finding new and creative opportunities, including digital approaches for connection with our audiences and communities well beyond our bricks and mortar space.