The white walls glow under the bright lights of the newly opened Metchosin Art Gallery.

A former elementary school library, the space has been transformed into a gallery for fine art.

Its first exhibit, featuring the works of artist Maggie Cole, opened Aug. 3.

The MAG, as it is known, has been a project of Coun. Jo Mitchell, and the Metchosin Arts and Cultural Centre Association (MACCA).

Helped by a $15,000 grant from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, the collaborative efforts of the school district and municipality are finally complete.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think thereB次元官网网址檚 an exhibition space like this on the West Shore,B次元官网网址� MAG curator Hailey Finnigan says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 open, bright. ItB次元官网网址檚 brand new, so I think people are really going to see it for how special it is.B次元官网网址�

The gallery covers more than 1,000-square-feet.

Finnigan hopes the space will be used for a variety of purposes, including art shows, film screenings, poetry readings, and workshops.

B次元官网网址淚 want this space to be a real multi-use space,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚 want it to be used in sort of an unpredictable way, which will be fun and engaging.B次元官网网址�

The MAGB次元官网网址檚 first exhibit, Maggie Cole: A Retrospective, runs Thursday to Sunday until Aug. 26.

Finnigan chose Cole as the galleryB次元官网网址檚 first exhibitor because she says the artistB次元官网网址檚 work sets a good tone for the galleryB次元官网网址檚 opening.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 yet know who my patrons are going to be,B次元官网网址� Finnigan says. B次元官网网址淪o I want to start off the programming with artwork that is accessible to a lot of people, but also provokes some questions about B次元官网网址楬ow does art fit into my life?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

ColeB次元官网网址檚 work is a B次元官网网址済ood jumping off point for art education,B次元官网网址� Finnigan says.

But the gallery isnB次元官网网址檛 just a space for art and education, itB次元官网网址檚 a place the community can use and share, MACCAB次元官网网址檚 president Mary Gidney says.

B次元官网网址淲e want to try and involve the community as much as possible,B次元官网网址� she says.  B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an art gallery thatB次元官网网址檚 open to lots of possibilities.B次元官网网址�

Gidney spearheaded the associationB次元官网网址檚 efforts on the gallery along with fellow board member Colleen Brownlee.

The building, which MACCA took over in 2008, is already home to many artists who have studios throughout both levels of the school.

The idea to construct an art gallery came after artists expressed the need for more studio space, Gidney says.

She hopes people visiting Metchosin will make an effort to include the gallery in their exploration of the community.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a chance to get to know Metchosin,B次元官网网址� she says.

reporter@vicnews.com