Art Gallery of Grande Prairie welcomes new Curator

The staff and board of the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie are pleased to introduce Jessica Groome as the Gallery’s new Curator, Exhibitions and Collections.

Jessica Groome (she/they) is a multidisciplinary artist, curator, educator, and administrator, originally from the unceded and unsurrendered lands of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc (Kamloops, BC). They completed their Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in 2007 and obtained their Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Guelph in 2011.

Over the past decade, Jessica has been based in Berlin, Germany, where they have been actively involved in the field of visual arts. Their primary focus since 2018 has been establishing and facilitating programming at La Datcha, a garden project space and residency program located in Berlin, Wedding.

For the past five years, La Datcha has created opportunities for dialogue between visiting artists and the local Berlin art community, offering artists a place to establish roots and cross-pollinate beyond the conventions of a typical gallery setting.

Jessica’s ability to connect communities, their resourcefulness, and their firsthand understanding of the art-making process make them a valuable addition to the role of Curator, Exhibitions and Collections at the Gallery. Jessica started their new position at the Gallery on June 1st.

Jessica shared, “As I’m new to Grande Prairie, I’m also looking forward to connecting with the local Indigenous community and it was wonderful for me to arrive when the Gallery was about to open the “Powwow” exhibition. Since starting at the Gallery, it’s been great getting to know the Permanent Collection, planning for exciting future programming, and being introduced to this diverse and vibrant region.”

Welcome, Jessica!