Art Gallery of Sudbury creates pop-up space downtown while main site closed for repairs

Staff with the Art Gallery of Sudbury have transformed a space on Elgin Street into a pop-up gallery for an exhibition.

They’re using the small venue while structural issues are addressed at their John Street building, the historic Bell Mansion.

“This would have been at the Bell Mansion had we not been closed for the time being,” said Nancy Gareh, the gallery’s education and program manager.

“But we like being in the downtown because this is where our home is eventually going to be. So it’s a really good move for us and it’s good for us to get a feeling of what it’s like to be here.”

Half of the small space showcases work from the Creative Kids program while the other half displays art from local artisans, which is currently up for sale.

“Kids’ artwork is so fun. They’re such a positive light to what they create. So it’s a refreshing take on art,” said Sarah Blondin, education coordinator.

With structural problems closing its John Street location, the Art Gallery of Sudbury has set up a pop-up gallery on Elgin Street. (Angela Gemmill/CTV News)

“It’s also great to support local artists and to see the local artists you have in your community and their interpretation of your surroundings is always kind of interesting.”

The structural issues at Bell Mansion meant all educational programming was moved to Laurentian University. That included this fall’s eight-week Creative Kids program.

“It’s very rewarding getting to teach all of them, especially with the varying ages,” said Emily Sportan, Creative Kids instructor.

“There’s a lot of creativity and wonder and excitement so it’s really rewarding to be their teacher.”

Laurentian University owns the Bell Mansion property and expects an engineering report next week.

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“The report will provide proposed designs, cost estimates and a schedule for the repairs,” LU said in a statement to CTV News.

The pop-up space will be open until the end of this month, but staff said that could be extended depending on what structural problems are found at the John Street gallery.