GALLERY PROFILE Definitely Superior is Northwestern Ontario’s leading edge art gallery and nationally recognized professional artist-run centre. Incorporated in 1988, Definitely Superior operates as a distinct alternative to public art galleries, museums, and commercial art venues. As an element of our country’s covetable network of artist-run centers, Definitely Superior is part of a bigger picture that has been a major catalyst in the development of new and exciting contemporary art in Canada. Formed and directed by artists in the city of Thunder Bay, the gallery’s role as a charitable, not-for-profit group is to support contemporary art and the artists that produce it. The mandate goes beyond presenting visual art exhibitions and extends into multi-disciplinary activities including: workshops and lectures, artist’s film screenings, media arts installations, offsite public artworks and interventions, performance art, interdisciplinary art, contemporary dance, music and experimental sound, mentorship and education of youth, as well as literary events and book publishing. Definitely Superior works to provide and increase opportunities for the research, production, presentation, promotion and dissemination of the work of artists. The gallery is committed to fostering the creation of new and experimental works through the payment of CARFAC professional artist’s fees. Every year, the gallery presents up to 45 exhibitions, events and activities. This programming occurs both in and out of the gallery, supporting more than 1,650 multi-disciplinary artists and providing them with an audience of 35,000 attendees and participants. Viewed with envy by artist’s world wide, our country’s network of artist-run-centres has been a major catalyst in the development of new and exciting contemporary visual arts in Canada. We present three types of curatorial based programming: Main Programming – International, national, and regional professional artists. Open Space Programming – Emerging, new generation artists, collectives, and arts organizations. Arts Education – Emphasizes mentorship and education of students and new generation artists so that they may gain experience in the research, production and presentation of contemporary art in a professional environment. Admission by Donation Ontario Premier’s Award For Excellence in the Arts Definitely Superior Art Gallery is the only arts organization to be acknowledged from Thunder Bay and all of Northwestern Ontario, as the Premier’s Awards’ $50,000 Laureate winner in 2013, and as a three-time Finalist for the awards in 2010, 2011 and 2013. Land Acknowledgement Definitely Superior Art Gallery is located on the traditional lands of the Fort William First Nation, Signatory to the Robinson Superior Treaty of 1850, on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg and the Métis. Definitely Superior acknowledges the history that many nations hold in the areas around our gallery and is committed to a relationship with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples based on the principles of trust, respect, reciprocity, and collaboration.
