Alexandra Badzak – gallery director, artist, and a resident of Lowertown
By Robin Etherington
Alexandra Badzak is Director and CEO of the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG), the big white cube that stretches from Mackenzie King Bridge to Daly Street beside the renovated Arts Court and Le Germain Hotel.
She was born in Regina and graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Masters in Continuing Education. Alex served as Head of Public and Professional Programs at the Mendel Art Gallery in Saskatoon and as Executive Director of the Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum in Ottawa. She joined the Ottawa Art Gallery in 2010 and worked miracles to achieve OAG’s expansion by 2018 – working with three levels of government, developers, architects, engineers, and community champions, as well as leading the very successful capital fundraising campaign.
Alex also serves as Past President of the Canadian Art Museum Directors Organization (CAMDO). She is an Adjunct Professor at Ottawa University, and is a member of International Women’s Forum and the Association of Art Museum Directors. Alex received the Victor Tolgesy Arts Leadership Award in 2019 from the Ottawa Arts Council and City of Ottawa, and the New Visitor Experience Award from Ottawa Tourism, also in 2019.
Alex is a resident of Lowertown and recently sat down for an engaging conversation focussing on the complexities of guiding a major art gallery and about her own art practice, as well.
What has been the greatest challenge for OAG?
When I first started at the OAG, the regional art scene had been overshadowed for decades by the “National” (National Gallery of Canada) and we had to fight hard to convince people that, yes, Ottawa deserves its own world-class art gallery. A new, stand-alone gallery for Ottawa was a long-time dream for the arts community, but many didn’t believe it would actually happen. When we opened our new facility in 2018, it was hailed as one of the most important cultural infrastructure projects in a generation and there were definitely tears of joy! Today our challenge lies in recovering from the pandemic that hit cultural institutions hard. There was an initial investment in the OAG and other arts organizations before COVID, but now we need to revitalize that commitment to Ottawa’s culture, including visual arts, music, theatre, and heritage, in order to have a vibrant downtown core and a healthy and prosperous city.
How challenging was financing the new build?
Financing the “new build’ was a challenge as it was the first time OAG did a major fundraising campaign. We had to shape expectations and work with the City on a financial model that mitigated risk. This involved working with Arts Court, a hotel/condo development, other levels of government, and the community. We built this amazing community gallery for a modest $36 million which is remarkable compared to other galleries across Canada. Scaling the rebuild realistically ensured its success.
What are the funding resources/streams for the OAG?
As the designated municipal art gallery, we have an arms-length relationship with the City of Ottawa and receive operating funding from it and other levels of government, through the Canada Council for the Arts and Ontario Council for the Arts. Like all registered charities and not-for-profit originations, OAG annually applies for government and foundation-based project grants. And, we have revenue generation activities, such as the Jackson café, gallery shop, facility rentals, and seek support from donors and sponsors. This includes our popular annual art auction. All this helps to keep OAG “free and accessible,” which is a huge commitment to the community.
What partnerships are happening that are unique and future oriented?
OAG believes in partnership and collaborations, and has worked with both public and private partners including Le Germain Hotel, University of Ottawa, The Royal Ottawa, the Ottawa Mission, and a number of cultural organizations such as the Ottawa Black Arts Kollective. In 2024, we will launch the first phase of the arts corridor project – a downtown renewal initiative supported by a “Heritage Strategic Initiatives” grant from Canadian Heritage, which will include a number of cultural and business partners.
OAG constantly partners with the University of Ottawa’s Visual Arts Program, exhibiting the Masters students’ artworks annually. In 2024, there will be a major exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the program.
We are also leaning into the wellness needs of our community, with programs such as “Creative Spaces” with The Royal Ottawa, and the Ottawa Mission.
How do Ottawa artists and the community use OAG?
OAG unabashedly believes that regional artists are central to gallery mandate and activities, and have developed innovative approaches to the way we work with artists in our community as exemplified through the exhibition “83 ‘til Infinity.” We also support artists at all stages of their careers, from emerging to established, through exhibitions, collecting their artwork and through educational programs. During our anniversary year in 2023, we inaugurated the Seniors Investiture Program, to recognize established artists who have made considerable contributions throughout their careers. Norman Takeuchi was a recipient of this honor, and you can see his legacy through the retrospective exhibition “Shapes in Between” on until March 24th.
How do you see OAG in 5 years?
Five years from now, OAG “will hit its stride,” firmly establishing itself as an innovator, connector, and cultural anchor for the community. OAG will work with others to elevate Ottawa’s artists and cultural scene to national heights.
Please talk about living in Lowertown: challenges and opportunities.
My husband and I live in a Lowertown heritage home and have the advantage to be able to walk to the ByWard Market and local places. Although this area is experiencing some social, economic and health challenges, Lowertown still is a beautiful part of Ottawa and I look forward to the actualization of a reinvestment in this area including through the ByWard Market Renewal Plan, especially given its upcoming 200th Anniversary in 2026-2027. Lowertown and the Market have such a rich heritage and are central to Ottawa’s vibrancy. As we look to the future, I hope to see that artists are central to our vision for this area – with more art studios, murals, and public art. Many people don’t realize that you can easily walk to the National Gallery of Canada, la Nouvelle Scene, the Bytown Museum, the National Art Centre, Ottawa’s Little Theatre, and of course the Ottawa Art Gallery and Arts Court, so let’s celebrate this by visibly linking all these cultural assets!
Please tell us about your art practice.
I am trained as a visual artist and artmaking will always be an important part of me, and, of course, informs my work as the Director and CEO of the OAG. Currently in my downtime, I create bespoke jewelry that affords me an opportunity to explore colour and form, which I gift to friends.
