GET TO KNOW US
MEET THE TEAM
Executive Director
Petrina McNeill has lived in the Okanagan since 2010. She holds a Master’s degree in Printmaking from the University of Northampton (UK) and brings together a strong foundation in arts education with over fifteen years of professional business experience. McNeill has also spent the past fifteen years in a leadership and management role at the Lake Country Art Gallery. Her professional background includes picture research at a photographic library and manufacturing operations administration and logistics. Collectively, these experiences have informed her strengths in organizational leadership, teamwork, and fund development—skills that have been instrumental in supporting the Gallery’s growth and long-term success. Since relocating to the Okanagan, McNeill’s own studio practice has taken a secondary role as she has focused on championing the value, purpose, and community impact of the Lake Country Art Gallery, contributing to its evolution as a dynamic public art institution at the heart of Lake Country, British Columbia.
Petrina McNeill has lived in the Okanagan since 2010. She holds a Master’s degree in Printmaking from the University of Northampton (UK) and brings together a strong foundation in arts education with over fifteen years of professional business experience. McNeill has also spent the past fifteen years in a leadership and management role at the Lake Country Art Gallery. Her professional background includes picture research at a photographic library and manufacturing operations administration and logistics. Collectively, these experiences have informed her strengths in organizational leadership, teamwork, and fund development—skills that have been instrumental in supporting the Gallery’s growth and long-term success. Since relocating to the Okanagan, McNeill’s own studio practice has taken a secondary role as she has focused on championing the value, purpose, and community impact of the Lake Country Art Gallery, contributing to its evolution as a dynamic public art institution at the heart of Lake Country, British Columbia.
Gallery Curator
Josh Willdigg is a curator, writer and filmmaker from the North West of England. Josh believes in curating as storytelling, and is passionate about blending, building and bridging worlds with artists inside and outside of traditional contemporary art boundaries. A Leverhulme Scholar for screenwriting, Josh's largest curatorial project so far has been the multi-part 'Football City, Art United.' with Factory International. It saw 12 pairs of world class artists and footballers come together to produce as many original collaborations. The project, like most of Josh's work across disciplines, was lead by the belief that creativity, like energy, never dissipates. It only transforms.
Josh believes that some of the most powerful tools we have are brand new sentences, and sticking things together in ways that haven't yet been attempted isn't just experimentation, but necessity. No idea is too ridiculous, because even the most mundane once were.
Community Engagement Coordinator
Amy Van Dongen is an Okanagan based artist and art therapist. She holds a Fine Arts Degree from University of Waterloo and a Graduate Diploma from the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute. Amy has 8 years experience creating art with a variety of populations from small children, teens, kids/teens with autism, adults, seniors, adults with diversabilities and Mamas and babies. Amy loves empowering individuals to find their passion in art and focus on their self care. She is currently drawn to fiber arts, collage and abstract painting in her own art practice. Amy runs the TapIn: Creative Safe Space for Teens.
Amy Van Dongen is an Okanagan based artist and art therapist. She holds a Fine Arts Degree from University of Waterloo and a Graduate Diploma from the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute. Amy has 8 years experience creating art with a variety of populations from small children, teens, kids/teens with autism, adults, seniors, adults with diversabilities and Mamas and babies. Amy loves empowering individuals to find their passion in art and focus on their self care. She is currently drawn to fiber arts, collage and abstract painting in her own art practice. Amy runs the TapIn: Creative Safe Space for Teens.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President of The Lake Country Art Gallery Society
Dr. Sharon McCoubrey is an art educator and the Coordinator of Community Engagement for the Faculty of Education at UBC Okanagan. She obtained her Bachelor of Education and Master of Education Degrees from the University of Victoria and her Doctorate Degree from UBC, all in art education. Dr. McCoubrey has been the recipient of several Excellence in Art Education Awards, and has also been presented with the Order of Lake Country for her work in Public Art, a BC Achievement Award, and the UBC Outstanding Faculty Award for excellence in professional and community work, and most recently the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal. Dr. McCoubrey’s areas of research include many aspects of art education and public art, teacher education, intergenerational learning, early learning, and aboriginal education. Dr. McCoubrey is Past-President of the Canadian Society for Education through Art and has been on the British Columbia Art Teachers’ Association Executive for over 20 years. She is currently Past President of the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, is a director of the Central Okanagan Foundation, Chair of the Lake Country Public Art Commission, is President of the Lake Country Art Gallery Society, and is in her 15th year as Chairperson of Lake Country Artwalk.
Dr. Sharon McCoubrey is an art educator and the Coordinator of Community Engagement for the Faculty of Education at UBC Okanagan. She obtained her Bachelor of Education and Master of Education Degrees from the University of Victoria and her Doctorate Degree from UBC, all in art education. Dr. McCoubrey has been the recipient of several Excellence in Art Education Awards, and has also been presented with the Order of Lake Country for her work in Public Art, a BC Achievement Award, and the UBC Outstanding Faculty Award for excellence in professional and community work, and most recently the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal. Dr. McCoubrey’s areas of research include many aspects of art education and public art, teacher education, intergenerational learning, early learning, and aboriginal education. Dr. McCoubrey is Past-President of the Canadian Society for Education through Art and has been on the British Columbia Art Teachers’ Association Executive for over 20 years. She is currently Past President of the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, is a director of the Central Okanagan Foundation, Chair of the Lake Country Public Art Commission, is President of the Lake Country Art Gallery Society, and is in her 15th year as Chairperson of Lake Country Artwalk.
BECOME A VOLUNTEER
GALLERY VOLUNTEERS
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Many thanks go out to our amazing team of volunteers many of whom are here to greet you each day in the gallery. Others work behind the scenes or help with garden and facility maintenance. Without their dedication, knowledge and enthusiasm we could not offer the wonderful welcome that has become the signature of the Lake Country Art Gallery experience.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or joining a supporting committee, please drop in or call the gallery for more information or click below: |
