History

In over 40 years the Mann Art Gallery (Mann) has had three names and one location change. The early days of the Gallery began in 1976, when the Little Gallery Committee was formed by a group of 12 volunteers. Bylaws were registered in 1978 and, by a Special Resolution in 1981, the Little Gallery Committee became incorporated as a non-profit corporation. The main objective of the gallery has been to develop public appreciation of the visual arts and to provide impetus for artistic growth by offering a diverse exhibition program encompassing a variety of media from local, regional, national and international sources. In 1987 the Saskatchewan Arts Board awarded the Little Gallery Incorporated operational status thereby, enabling it to hire a full time Visual Arts Director. In 1998 the gallery received operational funding support from the Canada Council for the Arts, enabling the gallery to expand its range and depth of community programming as well as to increase curatorial capacity and professional development opportunities amongst artists.

The Little Gallery Committee Inc. served primarily as a community-based gallery in the old Prince Albert City Hall building, now designated the Prince Albert Arts Centre.  In 2003, the E. A. Rawlinson Centre for the Arts, a twelve million dollar performing & visual arts facility, was built to satiate the need for a professional art gallery and theatre complex in Prince Albert. The Little Gallery moved to this building and became the Art Gallery of Prince Albert.  

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In 2010, a ten-year financial commitment from Roger and Diane Mann, proprietors of Mann Motor Products, signified increased attention to the direction of the organization. A perfect match, the steel structure of the Mann family’s first car dealership (est. 1957) in Prince Albert now defines the shape of the Mann's Main Gallery Space. Their patronage prompted another change in name, a new logo, funding to enhance our Permanent Collection, and a concentrated re-evaluation of governance structure and the gallery’s long-term strategic plan. 

The Mann is Prince Albert’s only public art gallery, and the northernmost public art gallery in Saskatchewan. It thus has an important role to play in promoting local and regional artists' work through mounting and touring exhibitions, producing catalogues, and conducting curatorial visits.  Adding diversity and community involvement in our programming is achieved by exhibiting works in our three galleries from different artists and art groups. This programming plan allows the gallery to maintain its curatorial focus (Main Gallery), include community-based arts organizations, guilds, seniors groups, at-risk and minority groups, and emerging artists (Project Space), while encouraging youth and students to actively participate (Studio Gallery/Education Room). In the fall of 2015, the Mann entered into a partnership with the Prince Albert Council for the Arts to program exhibitions at the John V. Hicks Gallery, located at the Prince Albert Arts Centre. The Mandate of the Hicks Gallery is to show work by local Prince Albert artists and notable regional work. The former is curated by the MAG Director/Curator, and the latter is achieved through touring OSAC exhibitions. The Mann and the Arts Council have shared a long and vibrant history in the Arts Centre, as the Mann was formerly located in that space, and both parties are committed to working together for the betterment of arts and culture in Prince Albert. The Hicks Gallery is financially supported by the City of Prince Albert, SaskCulture, and SaskLotteries.