Enhancing and expanding the Southern Alberta Art Gallery
A significant transformation is coming to downtown Lethbridge’s Southern Alberta Art Gallery Maansiksikaitsitapiitsinikssin (SAAG).
The SAAG Facilities Enhancement project is part of the City of Lethbridge 2022 – 2031 Capital Improvement Program. This revitalization will transform existing interior spaces and add new indoor and outdoor amenities.
Highlights of the project include:
- a park-side entrance and patio that opens onto Galt Gardens
- a food services area, including a cafe and catering kitchen
- the Listening Garden, an outdoor space for gathering, relaxation, reflection and public art
- an upgraded Lower Gallery environment
- a mixed-use workshop for exhibition-building, programs and events
These improvements will expand programming opportunities, enhance the visitor experience and strengthen SAAG’s role within Lethbridge and southern Alberta’s cultural landscape.
A key aspect of the project is its outward focus. It creates new opportunities for movement between Galt Gardens and Festival Square and strengthens connections to surrounding public spaces.
“We’re excited to expand and revitalize the Gallery in a way that reflects our communities’ evolving needs,” says Su Ying Strang, Executive Director of SAAG. “This project creates a variety of new spaces to host our expanding and increasingly diverse audiences. Our vision is to create a welcoming hub centered in great art and wonderful hospitality. This project will help us grow our audiences, supporting our belief that art is for everyone.”
The revitalization will make the facility more accessible and welcoming for visitors. Improvements include more entrances and a barrier-free lower level in the former Library building. The upgrades will also bring the Lower Gallery up to Class A gallery standards. This supports access to a broader range of artworks and exhibitions.
Upgrades also include a new food services area with a catering kitchen and third-party-operated café. These additions will help support SAAG’s long-term sustainability.
The estimated cost of the project is $7,714,000. Much of this is supported through federal and provincial grants:
- Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) - $500,000. The CCSF supports the improvement of physical conditions for arts, heritage culture and creative innovation.
- Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI)- $5,545,000. The MSI helps support local infrastructure priorities and build strong, safe and resilient communities.
- Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) - $1,000,000. The CFEP provides support to upgrade, expand, purchase or build public-use community facilities.
- Travel Alberta Tourism Investment Program - The tourism investment program supports the construction or purchase of a new tourism-related product, experience or service.
“The Southern Alberta Art Gallery is a critical part of Lethbridge’s cultural landscape. That’s why our government is proud to support this project, as it will help ensure the gallery can continue inspiring audiences and showcasing contemporary art for years to come” says Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women.
"The revitalization of the Southern Alberta Art Gallery will create an accessible, vibrant cultural destination, ensuring more people in Lethbridge and across southern Alberta can experience contemporary art, culture and creativity for generations to come," says Nathan Neudorf, MLA for Lethbridge-East.
“Arts and culture bring communities together, strengthen our economy and tell the stories that shape who we are as Canadians,” says the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages. “Our government is proud to support the revitalization of the Southern Alberta Art Gallery Maansiksikaitsitapiitsinikssin, creating a more accessible and vibrant space where Lethbridge’s artists, communities and visitors can connect, create and celebrate local culture.”
“Travellers are looking for authentic, place-based experiences, and southern Alberta delivers them in spades. By reimagining SAAG as a welcoming cultural hub connected to Galt Gardens and downtown, this project strengthens the entire visitor experience across the Lethbridge to Medicine Hat Tourism Development Zone," says Jon Mamela, SVP, Chief Commercial Officer, Travel Alberta. "It's the kind of catalytic, community-rooted investment that grows local economies and helps Alberta reach its ambition of a $25 billion tourism industry by 2035.”
The project supports Lethbridge City Council’s Strategic Plan by advancing priorities connected to a culturally vibrant city. City of Lethbridge officials view the project as an important investment in downtown revitalization and the community’s cultural infrastructure.
“This project represents a significant investment in arts and culture in Lethbridge,” says Mayor Blaine Hyggen. “We are grateful for the significant investments from our provincial and federal partners. Those funds have reduced the cost to local taxpayers to slightly more than six per cent of the total project budget. We’re proud to support this initiative that will serve our community for generations to come.”
During the renovations, SAAG will operate in three spaces:
- SAAG Acadia (616 3 Avenue South)
- SAAG Express (1409 Mayor Magrath Drive South)
- SAAG x Excite (101 Exhibition Way South)
More information on the SAAG modernization project is located on the Get Involved Lethbridge page and on the SAAG website.
SAAG will reopen its modernized building to the public in spring 2028.
For Public Inquiries:
Call or chat 311 | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Su Ying Strang
Executive Director, SAAG
systrang@saag.ca
Ben Rodgers
Communications Coordinator, SAAG
brodgers@saag.ca