For some time there had been talk within the St. Hildegard community about the possibilities of an art gallery, rotating art shows, artist workshops, Indigenous art/textiles displays, engagement with local Indigenous artists and the expansion of contemplative art space. This also supports the overall vision of the Parish of St. Faith to be “A Place of Art and Soul.” In keeping with this, the gallery has been named “Art and Soul.”

The parish had been working to extend the reach to artists in the community, and began to host art exhibits and talks, within our limited space and with our limited resources. The new gallery space and related programs have allowed us to expand our space and broaden our reach.

By design, the gallery space, exhibits, and workshops are a collaboration between Indigenous, refugee, and settler perspectives. There is also a commitment to showcasing the work of Indigenous artists and refugee-immigrant women. The hope is to make gallery space more available to emerging and underrepresented artists in our midst – as well as highlight the work of inspiring, established artist/mentors.