Kelowna Art Gallery

What Kelowna Art Gallery does

The Kelowna Art Gallery is a registered Canadian non-profit society (10756173RR001) operating as the primary public art museum in the Okanagan Valley, headquartered at 1315 Water Street in downtown Kelowna, British Columbia. It runs a rotating exhibitions program across five named gallery spaces (Nicola Wealth Gallery, Camille and David Saltman Gallery, Thomas A. Budd Gallery, Pushor Mitchell LLP Glass Gallery, and The Front project space), supplemented by a satellite exhibition space at Kelowna International Airport (YLW). The gallery stewards a permanent collection of approximately 1,000 works of art held on behalf of the City of Kelowna, featuring local, regional, and nationally significant Canadian artists, and maintains an exhibition archive dating back to 2005. Its programming is delivered by a staff of approximately 20, including an Executive Director, Curator, Marketing and Communications Manager, Public Programs and Engagement Manager, Curatorial Coordinator, Education Coordinator, and Gallery Assistants.

The gallery generates revenue through a diversified mix of earned and contributed sources: admissions ($10 individual, $8 student/senior, $20 family with children under 12 free), a tiered annual membership program ($35-$1,000+), facility rentals for events (up to 120-person capacity), retail through the Gallery Shop and ArtMart vending machine, summer camps ($285/week), teen art programs, adult workshops, and guided tours ($12/person). Charitable donations, individual giving, and corporate sponsorships (RBC, Nicola Wealth, Pushor Mitchell, BDO Canada) augment earned revenue, alongside government and foundation grants from the City of Kelowna, Canadian Heritage, Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, and Province of British Columbia. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging exhibitions, school tours, summer camps, social programming for seniors, family programming, and Indigenous-led community gatherings (Indigenous Beading Circle) to engage local residents, tourists, K-12 students, families, seniors, and corporate event hosts. Ticketing and registrations are processed through Square's e-commerce platform. The gallery holds CCPERB Category A status designation (2006), Canadian Museums Association and BC Museums Association accreditation, and pays CARFAC-rate artist exhibition fees, indicating adherence to professional museum standards.

Name

Kelowna Art Gallery

Legal name

Kelowna Art Gallery

Website

https://kelownaartgallery.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Kelowna Art Gallery is a registered non-profit public art gallery in Kelowna, British Columbia, operating exhibitions, educational programming, summer camps, and facility rentals across downtown and a satellite space at Kelowna International Airport, serving local residents, tourists, K-12 students, families, and seniors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Art Gallery and Museum Services

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Museums (THAJADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH), Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH), Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA), Art, Street Art & Creative Scene Tours (THAJAAAE)

Keywords

• Public art gallery
• Visual arts exhibitions
• Art education programs
• Cultural programming
• Museum membership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kelowna

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Admissions: Revenue from individual and group admission fees. Standard admission is $10 for individuals, $8 for students/seniors, $20 for families. Half Off Thursdays drive attendance.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership passes ranging from $35-$1,000+ per year, providing unlimited admission, event access, discounts, and reciprocal benefits at Canadian galleries. Auto-renewal available.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from individuals augmenting fundraising efforts. Registered non-profit society (10756173RR001). Corporate sponsors and foundation support.
4. Gallery Shop and ArtMart: Retail sales of merchandise including jewelry, ceramics, cards, and artisan items. ArtMart vending machine sells original artworks starting at $5, with proceeds supporting participating artists.
5. Facility Rentals: Rental of The Front project space and Art Lab for private events including receptions, lectures, film screenings, fundraisers, and AGMs. Capacity up to 120 for cocktail receptions.
6. Summer Camps and Art Classes: Art Adventure Summer Camps at $285/week (ages 6-12), Teen Art Week at $200, Teen Friday Art Series at $50/session, and adult workshops starting at $150. Members receive 15% discount.
7. Guided Tours: 45-minute guided gallery tours at $12 per person ($10 students/seniors). Group bookings for 6-20 individuals.
8. Government and Foundation Grants: Funding from City of Kelowna, Canadian Heritage, Canada Council for the Arts, British Columbia Arts Council, and other government agencies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Kelowna Art Gallery is a public art museum in downtown Kelowna, BC, that curates and presents rotating exhibitions featuring local, regional, and nationally significant Canadian artists across multiple gallery spaces (Nicola Wealth Gallery, Pushor Mitchell LLP Glass Gallery, and others). It operates a permanent collection of nearly 1,000 works on behalf of the City of Kelowna, delivers educational programming (summer camps, school tours, family activities, adult workshops), runs a tiered membership and supporter program, and offers facility rentals and a retail Gallery Shop including an ArtMart vending machine.

Product overview

The Kelowna Art Gallery operates as a traditional public art gallery offering a diverse portfolio of programs and services. The core offerings include rotating exhibitions featuring local, national, and international artists across multiple named gallery spaces; membership and supporter programs providing tiered benefits; and comprehensive education programming comprising art classes, workshops, summer camps, family activities, and school tours. Additional services include facility rentals for events, a retail gallery shop with artisan products and ArtMart vending machine, volunteer opportunities, and a donations program. The gallery serves as a community cultural hub providing access to visual arts exhibitions, art education, and cultural programming for the Okanagan region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Exhibitions Program Rotating exhibitions featuring local, regional, and nationally recognized artists across multiple gallery spaces including the Nicola Wealth Gallery, Camille and David Saltman Gallery, Thomas A. Budd Gallery, Pushor Mitchell LLP Glass Gallery, and satellite spaces.
• Membership Program Tiered annual membership providing unlimited gallery admission, event invitations, guest passes, discounts on classes and shop merchandise, subscription to KAG Journal, and reciprocal benefits at 17 Canadian galleries. Levels include All-Access Pass ($50/year), Art Academic Pass ($35/year), Legacy Circle Pass ($45/year), and Dual/Family Pass ($70/year).
• Art Classes and Workshops Adult and youth art education programs including summer classes, weekend workshops, and teen series taught by working artists. Offerings include landscape painting (Plein Air), portraiture, watercolour, and graphic novel workshops.
• Art Adventures Summer Camps Week-long summer art camps for children ages 6-8 and 9-12, taught by working artists. Weekly themes include Animal Art, People and Portraits, Zines, and Interior Design. Cost is $285 for members ($170) with 4-day option available.
• Family Sundays Weekly drop-in family art activities every Sunday from 10am-5pm, inspired by current exhibitions. Activities include weaving, painting, printmaking, and craft projects. Cost is $6 per person with all supplies provided.
• The Art Lab Self-guided community space within the gallery where visitors engage with art materials and activities inspired by current exhibitions. Open during gallery hours with supplies provided for hands-on creative expression.
• Indigenous Beading Circle Monthly community gathering for Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants to practice beadwork and share knowledge. Led by Justine Allison, held 1-4pm on selected Saturdays. Suggested cost $20, free for Indigenous participants.
• Gallery Get-Together Monthly social art program for active seniors and adults 50+, featuring themed art activities inspired by current exhibitions, tea, and socializing. Free admission, drop-in format held monthly.
• Studio Scribble Free monthly art program for children ages 5 and under and their caregivers, featuring sensory play, painting, printmaking, and drawing activities. Sessions run 10am-12pm on select Tuesdays and Saturdays.
• Guided Gallery Tours 45-minute guided tours led by educators, based on current exhibitions. Cost $12 (students/seniors $10). Groups of 6-20, pre-booking required. Includes inquiry-based discussion and behind-the-scenes insights.
• School Tour Program Educational tours combining exhibition visits with hands-on art activities for school groups. Supports BC Curriculum, 1.5 hours duration, capacity up to 30 students, cost $6 per student.
• Gallery Shop Retail space featuring curated artisan products including jewelry, ceramics from Clayline Pottery Studio, greeting cards, ornaments, and vases. Also includes ArtMart vending machine with original artworks starting at $5.
• ArtMart Vending machine offering original artworks by local artists starting at $5. Features works by multiple artists including Aimee Bailey, Carly Beckstead, and others. Organized in partnership with Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art.
• Facility Rentals Event venue rental featuring The Front project space and The Art Lab. Accommodates cocktail receptions (120), theatre seating (80), classroom (60), and banquet seating (70). Located in downtown Kelowna Cultural District.
• Donations Program Charitable giving program supporting exhibitions, public lectures, workshops, tours, and collection access. Kelowna Art Gallery is a registered non-profit society (10756173RR001).

Quantifiable outcome

• Category A status designation to CCPERB (Canadian Heritage)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• City of KelownacoreOthersPrimary government funder and owner of the permanent collection (approximately 1,000 works of art). Provides operational funding and support for gallery programs and exhibitions.
• Canadian HeritagecoreOthersFederal government department providing funding support for exhibitions and cultural programming.
• Canada Council for the ArtscoreOthersFederal arts funding agency providing grants for exhibitions, programming, and operations.
• British Columbia Arts CouncilcoreOthersProvincial arts funding body supporting exhibitions and cultural programming.
• Province of British ColumbiacoreOthersProvincial government providing operational and programming support.
• Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner2026 Exhibition Season Partner providing sponsorship for major exhibitions including Floor Opener, Home Without a Name, The Tree Planters, Sugar Rush, Wackem Sackem, and Afterglow. Beth Shumka, Regional Vice President, serves on the Board of Directors.
• Nicola WealthflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerNamed Exhibition Space sponsor for the Nicola Wealth Gallery. Major supporter of the Skillful exhibition.
• Pushor Mitchell LLPflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerNamed Exhibition Space sponsor for the Pushor Mitchell LLP Glass Gallery. Hosts the Afterglow exhibition. Kara James, COO of Pushor Mitchell, serves as Board Chair.
• BDO CanadacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNamed Exhibition Space sponsor and supporter of the Distant Light exhibition at the airport satellite location.
• Winnipeg Art Gallery-QaumajuqminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner venue for Tarralik Duffy's exhibition circuit. Duffy has exhibited at Qaumajuq as part of her national exhibition history.
• Remai ModernminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner venue for Tarralik Duffy's exhibition circuit. Duffy has exhibited at Remai Modern as part of her national exhibition history.
• Art Gallery of OntariominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner venue for Tarralik Duffy's exhibition circuit. Duffy has exhibited at AGO as part of her national exhibition history.
• National Gallery of CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational institution where Tarralik Duffy's work is represented in the collection.
• Alternator Centre for Contemporary ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for ArtMart vending machine program, bringing original artworks by local artists to the community. Joint curation and artist selection.
• Kitchener-Waterloo Art GallerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizing partner for Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun's Floor Opener exhibition. Macaulay + Co. serves as assistance partner.
• McMichael Canadian Art CollectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizing institution for Rita Leistner: The Tree Planters exhibition. Curated by John Geoghegan.
• Central Okanagan FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity foundation providing grant support and partnership for gallery programming.
• Central Okanagan Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner for School Tour Program, hosting groups of school-aged children for exhibition tours and art activities. Logo displayed on school tour materials.
• East Meets West Children's FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation providing support for children's programming at the gallery.
• Young Canada WorksminorOthersGovernment program providing employment and training opportunities for young cultural workers at the gallery.
• Cultural Human Resources CouncilminorOthersNational organization supporting human resources development in the cultural sector.
• Vancouver Art GalleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner for touring exhibitions, including hosting Group of Seven sketches through their provincial touring program.
• Clayline Pottery StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal pottery studio creating ceramics for the Gallery Shop. Co-founded by Dr. Susan Crichton, who serves on the Board of Directors.
• Benjamin Moore KelownaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor for School Tour Program, providing supplies and materials support.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights12 records

Direct peers

• Surrey Art Gallery: A municipal public art gallery in Surrey, BC, of comparable scale, offering rotating exhibitions, school and family programming, and a permanent collection. Both institutions serve mid-sized BC communities with similar programming breadth.
• Nanaimo Art Gallery: A public art gallery on Vancouver Island serving a mid-sized community with rotating exhibitions and education programs. Closely comparable in scale and community-based mission to Kelowna Art Gallery.
• Art Gallery of Greater Victoria: A public art gallery in Victoria, BC, with a permanent collection of approximately 20,000 works, exhibitions, and education programs. Comparable as a BC-based public gallery, though larger in scale and collection depth.
• Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art: A Kelowna-based artist-run centre for contemporary art that partners with Kelowna Art Gallery on the ArtMart vending machine program. Directly comparable in geographic catchment and contemporary art focus, though smaller in scale.
• Kamloops Art Gallery: A public art gallery in interior British Columbia offering contemporary exhibitions, education programs, and community engagement. One of the most directly comparable peers given similar size, regional location, and programming scope.
• Burnaby Art Gallery: A public art gallery operated by the City of Burnaby in Metro Vancouver, offering contemporary exhibitions, educational programming, and community engagement. Similar in size, mandate, and programming model to Kelowna Art Gallery.

Broad incumbents

• Vancouver Art Gallery: Western Canada's largest public art gallery, with significantly larger collection, exhibition budget, and visitor base. Comparable in category (BC public art museum) but operates at a fundamentally larger scale and offers a broader portfolio.
• Remai Modern: A major contemporary art museum in Saskatoon with national reach. Functions as a partner venue for Tarralik Duffy's exhibition circuit, making it a comparable circulating-exhibition peer, though at a significantly larger scale.
• McMichael Canadian Art Collection: A major public art gallery in Ontario focused on Canadian art, with a permanent collection of approximately 6,000 works. Direct exhibition partner for Rita Leistner's 'The Tree Planters' currently shown at Kelowna, making it a circulating-exhibition peer.

Emerging players

• Lake Country Art Gallery: A smaller public art gallery serving the Lake Country district north of Kelowna. Comparable in focus on regional contemporary art but operates at a smaller scale, with less programming breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KelownaArt
• Facebookfacebook.com/KelownaArtGallery
• Instagraminstagram.com/kelownaartgallery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kelowna-art-gallery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kelowna Art Gallery