After 10 years of dedicated service, Laura Schneider will be stepping down as the Executive Director of The Reach Gallery Museum. Schneider will leave her position as Executive Director at the end of October.
“It has been an incredible privilege to serve The Reach and work alongside such talented staff, artists, and community members,” said Laura Schneider. “I am proud of what we have accomplished together, and I look forward to watching the organization continue to flourish in the years ahead.”
Previously she was the Director/Curator of the Cape Breton University Art Gallery in Sydney, N.S. While in the Maritimes she co-founded the Lumière arts festival where she served as Artistic Director and Chairperson for four years. She was also a member of the board of Arts Nova Scotia from 2012 to 2015.
Laura holds degrees and accreditations from Queen’s University (Kingston, ON), Carleton University (Ottawa, ON), University of Ottawa, (Ottawa, ON), Kellogg School of Business, (Northwestern University, IL, USA), and the University of Victoria (Victoria, BC). She is currently adjunct faculty at the University of the Fraser Valley in the School of Creative Arts.
Under Schneider’s leadership, The Reach has been recognized for its leading-edge approach to curatorial practice and community-engagement. Its achievements include two Governor General’s History Awards for Excellence in Community Programming (2016, 2021), BC Museums Association Award for Excellence in Exhibitions (2018), BC Museums Association Award for Excellence in Community Programming (2021), Heritage BC Award Outstanding Award in the category of Education, Communication and Awareness (2021, 2024), Lieutenant Governor’s Arts and Music Award (2022), and Non-Profit Organization of the Year Abbotsford Business Excellence Award (2023).
“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Laura for guiding The Reach to new heights,” said Board Chair, Laura Authier. “Working with her for the last six years has been a great experience and it’s hard to imagine The Reach without her. But this is another milepost of The Reach’s journey and I’m confident The Reach will continue to be recognized as the very special cultural institution it is.”