A new executive director (ED) has been hired for The Reach Gallery Museum in Abbotsford.
Sheila Perry, who will begin in mid-June, takes over from previous ED Suzanne Greening, who left for a similar role at Whistler's new Audain Gallery.
Perry is originally from British Columbia, and most recently comes to Abbotsford after working at the Woodstock Art Gallery, where she conducted an operational analysis, organized programming, and developed a business plan reporting on findings.
Previously, Perry was appointed in January 2009 as the director of The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery in St. Johns, N.L., and remained there until take the position in Woodstock.
She studied art history and classics at the University of Alberta, then went to earn a master of museum studies from the University of Leicester in England.
While completing her education, Perry served as the curator intern at Glasgow Museums. She gained international work experience living in Scotland and Japan until she returned to Canada where she completed her master of business administration from the University of Alberta.
In addition to her education, Perry also brings to The Reach a record of service in the museum/gallery field. From 1999 through 2002, she was the executive director of the Visual Arts Alberta Association (VAAA), where she was responsible for operations and in representing the interests of independent Alberta artists to government and the private sector as well as establishing the VAAA gallery in Edmonton and curating its exhibitions.