Island Mountain Arts Public Gallery
Historically, Island Mountain Arts has sought to provide opportunities for the exhibition of professional artists in northern BC, for the benefit of both artists and northern communities. Relative to major urban centres, there have been minimal venues for exhibitions in the north, resulting in limited access to cultural activities for residents of small, isolated, or northern communities. Prior to 1988, Island Mountain Arts occasionally produced professional exhibitions by partnering with venues in Wells such as the Wells-Barkerville School, the Community Hall and the Wells Hotel, to exhibit artwork. With the restoration of the Hill Meat Market building in 1988 and creation of a public gallery, IMA was at last able to provide a secure professional venue for exhibits in Wells. The first Gallery exhibit featured rare late 19th and early 20th century prints from the Barkerville collection, setting the stage for the gallery’s commitment to the culture of the region and its involvement with regional partners. Since then, renowned artists from around the globe, as well as within Canada and BC, have exhibited in Wells, creating a bridge for northern BC residents to experience world-class art. Since the opening of the Hill Meat Market as Island Mountain Arts Gallery, the gallery has collected no exhibit admissions fees, providing unlimited access to every visitor. In fact, the Island Mountain Arts Gallery has been able to break down the traditional barriers that keep people from experiencing art. It is not unusual to see a logging truck or a dump truck parked in front of the gallery, while its owner/driver attends an opening or an event.
IMA’s gallery is the ideal space to exhibit many types of media. This professional yet intimate gallery space is 82 linear feet and has 12-foot high ceilings. The gallery makes use of natural light that floods in through huge storefront windows, and can also adapt for floodlights and spotlights instead of sunlight, as well as light-limited space for media.
Exhibitions run predominantly from April to October each year. Island Mountain Arts pays an artist fee and transportation amount. We work to develop outreach opportunities through workshops, screenings and conversations, which further engagement with the work while it resides in our community.
A call for gallery exhibition submissions usually appears in the mid-summer. We prioritize emerging and mid-career Western-Canadian Artists.
The Island Mountain Arts Gallery giftshop is aimed at promoting the creative endeavors of artists and makers. We take pride in creating an engaging environment that showcases the talents of our featured artists. Our goal is to curate a collection of unique and inspiring items for local patrons and visitors to Wells. We prioritize makers and creators that are local and regional.
For sales of artwork in the Island Mountain Arts Public Gallery and items in the Gift Shop, IMA takes a 25% commission from IMA members' sales and 30% from non-members (Membership is $20/$30 dollars, renewed on March 31st annually). We will also occasional purchase stock outright in bulk.
If you are interested in consigning work at IMA, please share some samples of your available works or portfolio with us for our consideration. If you have any questions or would like to further explore this opportunity, please contact finance@imarts.com or give us a call at this time 250-994-3466. We look forward to the possibility of collaborating with you and showcasing your remarkable work in our gift shop.