When the Edmonton Heritage Council (EHC) was formed less than two years ago, it was in response to a cultural plan that stated the need to “provide a clear collective identity and voice for heritage in Edmonton.” One local administrator is now the face behind those personality traits for that organization.
On Monday, St. Albert resident Allison Argy-Burgess was installed as the EHC’s first official executive director. Since its inception the EHC acted under interim leadership until the recruitment process could uncover an appropriate long-term administrator. Argy-Burgess comes to the position with extensive experience. Her record includes involvement in leadership roles with cultural groups and committees in this city including the Profiles Visual Arts Society, Art in Public Places, MusĂ©e HĂ©ritage Museum, Founders Day, the cultural heritage steering committee, and Arts and Heritage St. Albert. She was previously the executive director of the Visual Arts Alberta Association for several years. She is also a former volunteer of the year and a well-known exhibiting painter in the region. Her next show is scheduled at the McMullen Gallery in August alongside St. Albert area artists Sharon Moore-Foster and Dawn Leblanc.
The mandate of the still fresh-out-of-the-wrapper EHC is to promote Edmonton’s history and heritage back to Edmontonians.
“It’s badly needed. It’s going to be an organization that won’t replicate what the others are doing but it will try to fill in the spots that need to be filled and support [the groups] in whatever way we can.”
This means she will need to rally interest and ally with other cultural groups in the city such as the Edmonton Arts Council, Edmonton Tourism and the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation.
In the meantime, the VAAA has not yet named a replacement executive director as the call for applications expires at the end of next week. Moore-Foster, normally the association’s gallery co-ordinator, is filling in.
You can learn more about the EHC at www.edmontonheritage.ca.
