Alternator Centre for
Contemporary Art
The Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art is an artist-run centre operated by the Okanagan Artists Alternative Association, a non-profit society created in 1989. The Alternator is the oldest and largest artist-run centre between Calgary and Vancouver.
The Alternator offers year-round exhibitions of contemporary art in all media by regional, national and international artists.
Artist talks, exchanges, workshops, panel discussions and other events promote awareness of contemporary art practices and create a forum for the exchange of ideas within the artistic community. The Alternator Media Arts Centre offers members access to a video production facility and organizes workshops, screenings and commissioning projects.
The Alternator's other activities include visiting artist-in-residency projects and the Wearable Art Gala. The Alternator is part of a national network of 150 artist-run centres and some collectives that offer space for creative research and development in the arts. Artist-run centres are an accessible alternative to commercial and public galleries and have given early exhibition experience to many of Canada's leading artists.
