About Urban Shaman

*Above image Urban Shaman as it pretty much is today at 290 McDermot Ave location

MISSION STATEMENT
Urban Shaman is an Aboriginal artist-run centre dedicated to meeting the needs of artists by providing a vehicle for artistic expression in all disciplines and at all levels by taking a leadership role in the cultivation of Indigenous art.

VISION
Urban Shaman presents contemporary Indigenous Aboriginal art with integrity while remaining rooted in our diverse Aboriginal cultures.

MANDATE
Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Art is a nationally recognized leader in Aboriginal arts programming and one of the foremost venues and voices for Aboriginal art in Canada. Our focus on developing new programming and new ways of presenting it have resulted in increased exposure and the expansion of our activities. Urban Shaman is dedicated to the Aboriginal arts community and arts community at large.

• Committed to serving the needs of emerging, mid-career, and established Aboriginal artists through exhibitions and associated programming, workshops, residencies and curatorial initiatives.
• Dedicated to contributing to art historical and cultural critical discourses on a local, national, and international level.
• Committed to facilitating artistic production, education, and appreciation of contemporary art as an important and empowering tool for Aboriginal peoples.

Admission to the gallery is free.

COVID-19 Gallery update

Dear Friends and Patrons of Urban Shaman Gallery,

A few changes will be happening here, as we learn all together how you can safely view artwork in our space. Our upcoming show Weaving Cultural Identities will be opened to the public June 19- Aug 1, 2020 (details to follow soon). First, we are still deciding if a reception and in person artist talk will happen in any of our programming for the future…updates will be posted on our website, emails and facebook. Second we are trying to put in place online viewing, which takes learning, time and money (remember you can donate to Urban anytime, and this is one way we would use your donations. June is our Great Canadian Giving Challenge drive, where every dollar donated can enter us into a draw to win $20,000.00. Email coming soon about that).

Slowly our gallery is putting into place precautions for the new way you will be able to visit our gallery as per to the Manitoba provincial COVID-19 guidelines.
Here is what you can expect…

·    Gallery hours will be T-F 12-5pm (may change on demand from public). Our building, 290 McDermot Ave, located in the lovely Exchange District, is at this time locked at ground level and in person viewing is either by appointment or drop in. Signage posted on door window with our phone number for drop in visits. Call 204-942-2674 for ahead appointments or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

·    No more than 10 people in the entire space, (including staff in office. Staff will manage the flow) and additional patrons will be required to wait in hallway or outside, in queue of the 2 metre / 6 feet apart rule.

·    All patrons and staff in the gallery are required to keep 2 m/ 6 ft apart in space.

·    Disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, and latex gloves will be provided at entrance.  All staff and patrons MUST sanitize their hands upon entering our space.

·    Masks are not provided, but we suggest you bring yours to use.

·    Bathrooms are available for public use, but we ask you can let our staff know if you have used (very sorry on this, but this is the way it goes, and we don’t like it as much as you. We hope you understand). Soap provided and towel dispenser in bathroom. Disinfectant and hand sanitizer is located at front door as mentioned.

·    Resource library is only to be used and managed by staff at this time. Please talk to staff on premises if you require anything from our library, before touching any material.
 
·    Patrons who visit may be required to wait if appointments run late, as we do not want to disrupt “the art experience”. We hope that patrons will not exceed visits more than 45 mins, but this is not set in stone…we hope all will be patient as we will go on an appointment by appointment situation to discuss how we can make your visit pleasant.

·    No money will be exchanged, but a tap machine is available for bookshop purchases and memberships.


Please check our website and facebook page for any updates.
Email us at info at urbanshaman dot org if you have any questions about the gallery.

As we have said before, Urban is learning how we can bring amazing contemporary Aboriginal/Indigenous artwork to you safely. Please do your part and Keep your physical distance, Help each other and take care of yourself (a lil laughter can help too).

Thank you from Urban Shaman Gallery