An event five years in the making has seen the Route 22 Artist Collective Gallery take a bold new direction in supporting Cochrane's vibrant art community.
In front of a packed house for the gallery's concurrent grand opening and 5th anniversary celebration, Cochrane Foundation chair Tim Harvie announced the creation of two new endowment funds specifically targeted at supporting the art gallery— the first of their kind for the long-standing foundation.
One of the new funds is a capital campaign to purchase the building currently leased by the gallery in the heart of Cochrane’s Historic Downtown. The goal is to raise $3 million by 2028.
The second is a long-term operational endowment fund.
By working with the Cochrane Foundation, tax receipts will be available for the donations.
Harvie admitted the foundation wasn’t initially on board when the gallery first approached them for funding ahead of its launch.
“Many galleries have come and gone over the years, and being prudent with our funds, we wanted to see how it panned out,” he said.
Once the gallery was established, the foundation provided some support and is now thrilled to become a major partner in supporting the creative economy.
“We don’t raise the money, but we handle the money, invest it, dole it out and issue the tax receipts — which can be a huge boost for Route 22, because people are more likely to support them when they get a tax receipt for their donation.”
It was Harvie’s first visit to the gallery, and he left impressed.
“It’s an amazing gallery, and we’re just thrilled to be a partner with you. I have no doubt this will succeed because of this one right here,” he said, pointing to gallery executive director Lara Kruger.
Earlier, he described Kruger as “the definition of a dog with a bone” for her determination to make the gallery succeed.
What began in June 2020 as a grassroots effort by 12 artists in a strip mall location at 312 Fifth Ave. near Safeway has since grown into a vibrant collective of 94 members. The gallery is now located at 208 1st St. W.
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“It just grew, and grew, and grew at the grassroots level — and I think that’s part of the reason it succeeded,” said Kruger. “It’s a very genuine, authentic movement of artists who wanted to bring something to life. We really approached it from a collaborative perspective, realizing we’re stronger together and that the competitive mindset wasn’t the way to go for the arts community.”
Also speaking at the celebration was the immediate past president Denise Smith, newly-elected president Jo-Anne Oucharek and Mayor Jeff Genung. Musician Ryan Milliken performed solo during the event.
Since 1993, the Cochrane Foundation has supported more than 105 local organizations through grants and scholarships. By funding essential services and grassroots initiatives, the foundation helps ensure charitable contributions make a lasting impact. To date, it has reinvested approximately $1.3 million into Cochrane and the surrounding area.
For more information on how you can "Jump on the Journey" visit Support The Gallery – Route 22.
