The Kootenay Gallery of Art is set to reopen with reduced operations to the public on Aug. 6.
The gallery has been closed since mid-March due to COVID-19.
One of the first events at the gallery will be an artists’ talk event with artists from two different exhibitions at 11 a.m. on Aug. 8.
The After Eden exhibit by Stephanie Kellet and Robert Livingood showcases ghostly animals walking across the Yukon landscape while the Anima exhibit by Lydia Miller showcases artwork made from organic material along the B.C. coast.
While Kellet and Livingood will be attending the event in person, Miller will be attending it remotely online through video.
The Columbia Basin Culture Tour, which showcases local arts, culture and heritage for free will also take place at the facility from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 8 and 9.
Curator Maggie Shirley said multiple health precautions are being taken to mitigate the threat of COVID-19 in the facility.
“We’ll have hand sanitizer at the door and we’ll have shields in place over our cash register,” said Shirley. “For our artist talk, we will be spacing out the chairs and we’re recommending attendees wear masks.”
Moving forward, the gallery will only be open from Thursday to Saturday between noon and 4 p.m.
The gallery also recently launched an online store to make it easier for people to view and purchase Kootenay art pieces.
It feels great to finally open the gallery to the public, said Shirley.
“We’re looking forward for people to come back to the gallery again. We’ve really missed having people over this long period of time.
“The heart of the gallery is really the people who walk through its doors.”