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Gallery curator honoured by museum association

One of the region's veteran cultural professionals has been applauded provincially for his efforts here. George Harris, the longtime curator of the Two Rivers Gallery was spotlighted this past weekend at the B.C.
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Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon tours the Two Rivers Gallery with curator George Harris and managing director Carolyn Holmes on Feb. 2.

One of the region's veteran cultural professionals has been applauded provincially for his efforts here.

George Harris, the longtime curator of the Two Rivers Gallery was spotlighted this past weekend at the B.C. Museums Association (BCMA) awards show and conference held this year in Whistler. The BCMA bestows few trophies at each year's event, so Harris's recognition was especially amplified. He was one of only two to take home the Distinguished Service Award.

He deserved the award, according to BCMA officials, because of "years of work, through Two Rivers Gallery, to develop the careers of northern B.C. artists and to bring internationally renowned artists to northern B.C."

Famously humble, Harris responded with a simple social media posting.

"Well what an honour, I was truly touched and I am grateful for your comments. I am very mindful that the work of my colleagues at (gallery) and the many artists with whom I have had the privilege to work with over the years are a huge part of this award. Thank you most sincerely. I am honoured."

The managing director of gallery, Carolyn Holmes, said the facility's staff knew Harris had been shortlisted for the awards night, but had no idea even as they were in the room that night that Harris would be called to the stage.

"It is absolutely a big deal to win this award. Very few people ever get it," she said.

What makes Harris so special, she added, is his ability to see into the artistic and cultural future. There are many kinds of art, large numbers of artists in each genre, and many forms of exhibiting art. He spots artists that have star potential, he works with them over long periods of time to improve their professionalism, and often he will put that work on display at gallery which has, also as a result of Harris's quality control vision, a stellar national reputation as a showcasing institution.

Conversely, Harris also works well with long established artists on the national scene to reach mutual agreement on putting their work on display at gallery. No two facilities are the same, so he and those guest artists must carefully arrange these exhibitions well in advance. That takes a rare form of relationship-building.

"I had so many messages from artists talking about how an exhibition at Two Rivers had a noticeable impact on their career, and working with George and the team here was a highlight of their artistic career," Holmes said.

"In his quiet way, he is a mover and a shaker on the provincial arts scene. When we see an art exhibition, we don't see that he has been talking to these artists for a year or more, many years in some cases, building up to the exhibition. They really think a lot of him."

The proof of that esteem comes in the form of art donations.

Sometimes gallery needs to raise funds, and high-calibre art pieces are always on offer for such money-raisers.

Holmes also pointed to the gallery's permanent collection - the art that is housed as a municipal collection owned by the citizens of the region via the gallery - as another testament to Harris's reputation among artists.

"Our permanent collection is about 400 works, and that is still a small collection by other community's standards, but it is almost double what it was when George got here. That's a significant legacy, and it comes as a result of the relationships artists have with George. He is a very skilled and talented arts mind, and we are proud we have him here."

Harris shares the cultural impact values of the other award winner of the Distinguished Service Award.

That went to Tim Willis, a veteran B.C. and Alberta museum administrator. He said "I believe that museums can change lives and that this is done through powerful storytelling."

Northern B.C. museums were previous winners

Northern B.C. has rarely been recognized via the B.C. Museums Association awards, but there are a smattering of successes over the years. Some of the member organizations from this city include The Exploration Place, the Central B.C. Railway and Forestry Museum and Two Rivers Gallery.

Only three categories are ever spotlighted at the BCMA awards show and conference. One is the Distinguished Service Award, won this year by George Harris - the first time a Prince George culture professional has achieved this trophy.

Another is the Corporate Service Award that is not always presented.

A winner has been honoured only nine times since its inception in 1996, and that first one went to Northwood Pulp & Paper of Prince George (now a division of Canfor) for financial and in-kind aid to boost children's programming at The Exploration Place.

The third category is the Award Of Merit which is almost always bestowed to multiple recipients each year and thus more of that limelight has shone on people from this area.

It has been in existence since 1983. Most recently for Prince George winners, Two Rivers Gallery won in 2014 for the self-designed exhibit entitled My River My Home.

In 2013 it was earned by Bob Campbell personally for his work at The Exploration Place on the original exhibit entitled Cultural Expressions of the Lheidli T'enneh.

The Exploration Place won it as an institution in 2006 for the Common Language Project and Treasures of the Carrier People dual programs.

In 2004 it was Two Rivers Gallery winning for the self-designed touring exhibit Rough Hewn: George Sawchuk.

Harris was also the recipient, in 2007, of the B.C. Museums Association's Golden Anniversary Service Award - the only cultural professional from Prince George to earn this distinction.