By Lisa Schick

Art Gallery gets new Mann-agement

Mar 30, 2011 | 6:28 AM

After a lengthy process the Mann Art Gallery, formerly the Prince Albert Art Gallery, has chosen its new curator/director.

Tuesday night, during the gallery’s first annual general meeting under its new name, Griffith Aaron Baker was announced to be taking over the position.

Out of the many applicants they had for the position they picked Baker because he had everything they were looking for, said Pat Grayston, chair of the Mann Art Gallery board of directors.

“(The decision was) based on his qualifications, plus some good leadership qualities that we saw there too, he’s got his Masters of Fine Arts, he also has experience dealing with a gallery being both curator and director,” Grayston said.

One of the main things they looked for during the interview process was someone who would be able to manage the gallery as well as the art.

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“It’s difficult coming into a position such as this because you have been trained through your art to be an artist, to look at art, to distinguish what’s good art, but you haven’t really been trained … to be a manager, to be a director — and 70 to 80 per cent of the job … is being a director,” said Grayston.

Baker is currently a curator/director at a gallery in Estevan and will be taking over the position in Prince Albert as of June 1.

Grayston said the board members at the Estevan gallery gave her a lot of confidence in the decision to hire Baker.

“I was excited about what they were saying about what he had done for the Estevan gallery, I think he’s going to bring a sense of professionalism with him, he is every inch a professional and he’s going to bring some ideas about how we can do some things here,” Grayston said.

Grayston believes that Baker will be able to steer the gallery in the right direction, especially when it comes to supporting and encouraging local artists.

Baker works with local artists in the Estevan area — helping them become more professional doing things like helping them with their CVs and helping them apply for grants.

According to Grayston there is a need for this type of work in Prince Albert.

Grayston said she is excited about this appointment and to see what Baker will do with it

lschick@panow.com