MOOSE JAW — The Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery (MJMAG) is now managed by a new operations manager, Jennifer Warren, and she replaces Violet Tang who stepped down to pursue her dream as a fiction writer on Nov. 16.
Warren began her first day of duties at the gallery on Nov. 26 and said she’s excited for the new role.
“I am excited to work in a space where I am surrounded by beautiful things,” Warren announced. “My office view of Crescent Park and hallways lined with framed photographs make my soul happy.”
The operations manager oversees accounting, grant writing, and event organizing, but limited staffing at the gallery has seen the role expand to include exhibition planning. Former manager Tang further shaped the role by applying her art history background and love for curation.
For Warren, this expanded role will include art gallery exhibition planning, research, as well as numerous small curation projects.
“The longer I am here the more in awe I am of the people who have been at this desk before me,” she said. “This role is not a small one and, although I am still learning the ropes, I can see how this will be so rewarding.”
Originally from out of town, Warren said the arts have played a large role in her decision to stay.
“I actually grew up in Montreal, but the charm of Moose Jaw has kept me here most of my adult life,” she said. “My husband is from Toronto and we have both worked in the arts for quite a few years.
“I have always loved music and visual art, and I worked full time as a professional photographer in the Moose Jaw area for about a decade. I know and love so many local artists and musicians and have a particular fondness for the theatre world.”
Warren describes herself as “a passionate — and nerdy — appreciator of the musical theatre genre,” and said that art needs to be shared as widely as possible for our community to thrive, for our mental stability, and “for our healthy expression as humans.”
“Art and music can help us find ourselves, our stories, and our place. Galleries get to put those stories on the wall for everyone to experience. That’s pretty incredible.”
Previously, Warren worked as the front of house manager at the Centre for Arts and Culture and said she loved both her team and the eclectic nature of the job. She handled “everything from marketing and communication to pre-production work” and executed numerous events.
Around six months ago, Warren applied for the operations manager position and said the chance to make a difference at a sister organization in town was “an exciting prospect.” She also admires the “professionalism and dedication to the arts” displayed by museum director Jennifer McRorie — now her boss.
Never one to turn down a challenge, she said her first priority is to learn as much as she can about her new role.
“There has been so much change in the role over the past few years,” she noted. “I hope to bring some stability in this area, find efficiencies, and see how I can help organize the flow of the administrative work here.”
As well, she’s hoping to see a few program updates along the way. “I would love to see updates to the Discover Centre and help brainstorm new ways of engaging the community in conversations about art and culture,” she added.
“As a visual artist myself, it feels like a gift to come to work every day and have access to art from near and far,” she remarked. “I look forward to working with the team here to keep expanding the programs and offerings that we do.”
The MJMAG is located at 461 Langdon Crescent. To contact the gallery, call 306-692-4471 or visit MJMAG.ca. You can also follow the MJMAG on Facebook at ‘Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery.’
