The Old SchoolHouse Art Gallery

A Bit of history

This old little school house has a colourful history. It was an elementary school built in 1939 in Oyster Bay, Vancouver Island, closed a mere 10 years later and moved to Cortes Island in 1950 were it was attended until 1973, when it became too small for the growing community ans closed its doors.
The building was almost forgotten until 1994, when a group of youngsters started a project for a proposed recreational facility. Major structural changes where made to the building, but the project was never completed.

In 1995 Cortes Islander Lisa Thompson put a great deal of energy into a project to deem the building as a heritage site. The School Board, who has jurisdiction over the building, decided not to proceed with her dream even though it is the last one room school house north of Duncan.

And so it sat for another three years, when Norberto Rodriguez dela Vega, a relative newcomer to the island called a meeting of all interested artists wishing to use the building as a gallery space. A core group of artists took it upon themselves to work towards that goal. The Whaletown Community Club gave the artists the green light to begin necessary construction to complete the restoration of the building. After lots of volunteer work, the dream came true and the Old School House Fine Arts Gallery opened its doors for the first time in the summer of 1998.

The ambiance and character of the building and grounds are an exceptional backdrop for Cortes Island artists to show their works. The main objectives of the Gallery are:

- to promote the cultural diversity of all the local artists whether it be in a two or three dimensional format;

- to provide a place that encourages us to explore new artistic techniques and avenues not yet attempted;

- to offer a cultural space accessible to all members of the Cortes community, a place where we can meet friends, talk and learn about art and nourish our cultural soul.