Brampton - The Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) announced today the official opening dates for the newly renovated site. The openings will happen in stages with the Art Gallery being first on Sunday, Sept. 30. The grand re-opening of Phase One, which includes the Art Gallery, Museum and Archives, will happen over the weekend of Nov. 17 and 18. The full site will be completely operational on Feb. 18, 2013, in time for Family Day. Each of the three openings will feature free programs and events for everyone to enjoy.

“We are thrilled to have the opening dates finalized,” said Claire Loughheed, Manager, PAMA. “Now we can look forward to seeing all of the hard work over the past few years come to life. We are also very excited about the grand opening celebrations we have planned for the community.”

The Art Gallery will be home to over 4,500 pieces of art. This newly renovated building boasts numerous exhibition spaces on several levels including 2,070 square feet of permanent collection space; 2,580 sq. feet of temporary collection space; a community gallery of 2,000 sq. feet; art storage of 2,500 sq. feet and a 542 sq. foot studio space. Some of the first works to be exhibited when the gallery opens to the public will include:

Lyn Carter: Cover
Lyn Carter’s fabric-covered organic forms challenge our notions of the medium of sculpture. This ten-year survey of her work is presented in partnership with Cambridge Galleries.

Passages
This photo-based exhibition brings together artists of varied cultural backgrounds who investigate personal and family history in their work. Artists include Sara Angelucci, Greg Staats, William Eakin, Donald Rance and Vid Ingelevics, who have created a special installation based on images from the Region of Peel Archives’ outstanding collection of mid-20th century photography.

The permanent collection at the gallery will include:

Peel Art and Artists from the Permanent Collection
Peel’s artistic heritage will be profiled through the work of contemporary and historic artists with roots in the community. Featured artists include John Armstrong, Jim Reid, Ronald Bloore, Caroline Armington and others.

Works on Paper Gallery
A selection of works given in memory of late curator David Somers will be showcased along with new acquisitions purchased with the support of the David Somers Works on Paper Endowment Fund.

PAMA was designed with the community in mind. The stunning architecture features a large, open and airy main entrance, including wooden beams intended to resemble the barns associated with the area’s agricultural past. Inside, PAMA will have many spaces in which to gather, learn and connect with the community. One space in particular, Manning Square, will be the central area for families. Free programs will be held in this unique space.

When it re-opens, PAMA will be one of only three places in Canada that combines an art gallery, museum and archive facility under one roof. This unified space will provide an opportunity to showcase Peel’s history in a connected and integrated way. Programs geared towards every member of the family are currently being developed and will be offered throughout the many spaces within PAMA.

The Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) is making history. A $13-million restoration and construction project commenced in 2010 to enhance the land and buildings that hold the Region of Peel’s museum, archives and art gallery. Operated by the Region of Peel, PAMA is located at 9 Wellington St. E. in Brampton, Ontario in the historic Peel County Jail and Courthouse. PAMA collects, preserves and displays art, artifacts and archival documents significant to Peel’s culture and heritage. PAMA’s transformation from a place of confinement, what was once the jail, to a place that welcomes the community with the freedom to explore is almost complete. When PAMA re-opens later this year, there will be expanded exhibition space and state-of-the art collection storage. PAMA looks forward to welcoming everyone into its new space later this year. Visit PAMA.peelregion.ca for more information.