The Southern Alberta Art Gallery has officially launched a new partnership with Excite Lethbridge to bring contemporary art to the Lethbridge Trade & Convention Centre. This collaboration transforms the venue into a rotating art space, offering free public access to exhibitions throughout the year.
The debut exhibition, titled Hat & Boot Dance, features the work of multidisciplinary artist Hali Heavy Shield. The collection includes large-scale drawings of traditional Blackfoot beaded bags and dancers, highlighting the intertwined histories of powwow and rodeo cultures. Heavy Shield, a member of the Kainai Nation, holds the distinction of being the first Blackfoot woman to earn a PhD from the University of Lethbridge.
This initiative coincides with a major renovation project at the gallery’s long-standing home at Galt Gardens. As the organization celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, the temporary move to the convention centre allows the gallery to continue its programming and reach new audiences while its main facility undergoes modernization. The inaugural year of this partnership is supported by funding from the Rozsa Foundation.
The Hat & Boot Dance exhibition is currently open to the public and will remain on display through June 26, 2026. Visitors can view the artwork in the public spaces of the convention centre, a site that hosts hundreds of thousands of guests annually for major local gatherings like Whoop-Up Days and the Lethbridge and District Pro Rodeo.
