Arts Community Mourns Passing of Jann LM Bailey

Arts champion and Kamloops Art Gallery executive director Jann LM Bailey passed away on Friday, October 9, following an eight-year battle with leukemia. 

Bailey led the Gallery for 28 years and was instrumental in a $10-million capital project to relocate it in 1998 to an expansive, purpose-built civic facility. 

Originally from Ontario, she attended Sarah Lawrence College in the 1970s before obtaining an honours degree in fine art from the Ontario College of Art and Design (now OCAD University). Prior to her move to Kamloops, Bailey worked as education coordinator for the Art Gallery of Peterborough and was head of arts administration and art conservation at Peterborough's Fleming College. 

From 1996 to 2000, she worked as a provincial appointee on the board of directors for the Royal British Columbia Museum, and from 1995 to 2001 served on the board of BC Lottery Corporation as chair of the compensation committee, and vice-president. Her work in the museums community also included serving as president of the Canadian Museums Association and of the Canadian Art Museum Directors' Organization. 

In conjunction with Scott Watson of the Morris & Helen Belkin Art Gallery at the University of British Columbia, Bailey organized the Rebecca Belmore exhibition for the Canadian Pavilion for the 2005 Venice Biennale.

Her many honours and awards include the 125th Anniversary of Confederation of Canada Medal (1992), the Distinguished Service Award, British Columbia Museums Association (2000), the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, 50th Anniversary (2002), the first Barbara A. Tyler Award in Museum Leadership (2010), and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012).

Bailey most recently was supporting efforts to develop a proposed $90-million performing arts centre in Kamloops. 

From the Kamloops Art Gallery website: "Jann LM Bailey will be remembered as a force in the gallery and museum community; she worked tirelessly to support artists, ensure excellence at the Gallery and engage people in the importance of our art in our lives."

A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the Coast Kamloops Hotel & Conference Centre. A reception will follow.

Donations in memory of Jann LM Bailey can be made in her name to the Kamloops Art Gallery.