ItB次元官网网址檚 hard to imagine an art gallery running year after year without any staff whatsoever.

But thatB次元官网网址檚 basically what the Ministry of Casual Living has been doing for the past decade, surviving mostly on grant money and the generosity of a dedicated group of volunteers.

B次元官网网址淚 added up the rent and pure money that the volunteers that ran the place had put in over the last nine-and-a-half years, and it was close to $85,000 that artists paid out of pocket to keep it going,B次元官网网址� says Aubrey Burke, who is just completing a year-long stint as the B次元官网网址渕inisterB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� the grassroots organizationB次元官网网址檚 term for curator B次元官网网址� of the arts collective. B次元官网网址淎nd that doesnB次元官网网址檛 count time.B次元官网网址�

It should be pointed out that the Ministry isnB次元官网网址檛 exactly your typical gallery. All artists are welcome, and the groupB次元官网网址檚 primary focus is on giving emerging artists a chance to show their work for the first time.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e trying to make this available to everybody. ItB次元官网网址檚 not exclusive at all,B次元官网网址� says Cameron Kidd, the groupB次元官网网址檚 new minister. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 set up in a way that there is a space available for people if they want to submit. We try to encourage people to submit as many proposals to show as they can.B次元官网网址�

A recent move from the MinistryB次元官网网址檚 original home has opened up new opportunities for potential exhibitors. After occupying a space on Haultain Avenue for its first nine-plus years of existence, the Ministry now has a trio of display spaces in the heart of downtown Victoria.

The windows B次元官网网址� in Odeon Alley, at 625 Johnson Street and at 407 Government Street B次元官网网址� allow the Ministry to host up to six different exhibits per month; given the normal two-week run of each display. They can also co-ordinate the display spaces to support a single artist.

B次元官网网址淲e just had John Luna show in all three windows, and that went really well,B次元官网网址� says Kidd.

Not only has the move allowed the Ministry to spread the wealth, itB次元官网网址檚 exposed them to a whole new audience.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e definitely getting a different crowd, different exposure B次元官网网址� probably more exposure B次元官网网址� downtown with the citizens of Victoria than we were on Haultain in Fernwood,B次元官网网址� says Kidd. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot more foot traffic.B次元官网网址�

Last week the Ministry hosted a two-day party to celebrate its first 10 years. Judging by the sold-out crowds on both nights, thereB次元官网网址檚 plenty of support in Greater Victoria for their artists-supporting-artists approach.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e vibing off the community and people are excited about what weB次元官网网址檙e doing,B次元官网网址� says Burke.

Ten years in, the Ministry continues to look for ways to reach out to the arts community. Collaborations with local musicians are being explored, beach tours are being arranged, and thereB次元官网网址檚 even a documentary in the works that examines the groupB次元官网网址檚 first decade of existence.

B次元官网网址淚 think that the Ministry has been an important space for artists over the last 10 years, and has given hundreds of people the opportunity to showcase their works in Victoria,B次元官网网址� says Kidd. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檇 like to continue doing so.B次元官网网址�