The Vernon Public Art Gallery (VPAG) in British Columbia is launching four new summer exhibitions in June 2026: Emergence, featuring recent BFA graduates from UBCO; Fireline Kinship, a multidisciplinary response to the 2021 Nk’Mip Creek wildfire by Taylor Baptiste; Through Our Eyes, showcasing youth from the Boys and Girls Club Okanagan’s Teen Junction Youth Program; and Gathered, a group exhibition by School District 22 Indigenous students. An opening reception will be held on May 28, and all exhibitions run through June and July.
These exhibitions matter because they highlight the gallery’s commitment to supporting emerging and Indigenous artists, youth voices, and community-based art practices in the Okanagan region. By featuring recent graduates, Indigenous perspectives, and local youth programs, VPAG demonstrates how regional public galleries can serve as vital platforms for diverse contemporary art and cultural dialogue outside major urban centers.