Curator and Manager of Galleries, Allen Sapp Gallery

Leah Garven is the Curator/Manager of Galleries for the City of North Battleford which includes the Allen Sapp Gallery. For the past 30 years, she and her husband have operated their business, Elements, specializing in exhibition design, installation, and project management services to museums. Since 1993 Leah has worked on numerous projects with Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre, and the Office of the Treaty Commissioner; this work has positioned her to experience and learn about our treaty relationship and the Indigenous world-view. Leah was the project manager for the national travelling exhibition, Through the Eyes of the Cree – The Art of Allen Sapp – The Story of a People, which was seen by 500,000+ Canadians. Leah was a Lead Coordinator for Walking With Our Sisters North Battleford, which honoured the lives of MMIWG2S. The Allen Sapp Gallery’s mandate is to exhibit the art of Allen Sapp and to create a greater understanding of Indigenous culture and tradition, through its’ exhibitions and programs. Leah carries this mandate throughout her leadership where she regularly integrates Indigenous programs at other City of North Battleford facilities in the spirit of an inclusive and supportive community. The North Battleford Galleries host Indigenous-led programs and engage Indigenous people through inclusion in program development, participation and employment. The Galleries continue to endeavour in creating a safe place for difficult discussions and have included addressing the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action in the 2019-2023 strategic plan. There is more work to be done. Leah is grateful for the people she has met along the way, whose wisdom, patience and teachings have guided her career.