Mission & History

Mission

The mission of The Reach is to be the center of cultural and creative innovation in the Fraser Valley. We are committed to preserving and sharing the stories of our rich and diverse cultural heritage and showcasing the best in the visual arts from both inside and outside our community.

Vision

The Reach is a gathering place that fosters intercultural and intergenerational exchanges in an environment of mutual respect and understanding.

Statement of Solidarity and
Anti-Racism

We acknowledge that the harmful, damaging, and oppressive impacts of racism form part of the lived experiences of BIPOC members of our community. Art galleries and museums are implicated in the histories and contemporary conditions of colonialism and racism. We have for too long focused on creating, reinforcing, and privileging white, settler narratives and forms of expression, while failing to adequately reflect the lives and experiences of BIPOC. We, the Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers of The Reach are committed to ending this pattern of negligence with a process of institutional reflection to identify and address racism.

Land Acknowledgement

The Reach is located on Stó:lō Téméxw, in the unceded Stó:lō territory of the Semá:th and Mathxwí First Nations. 

History

In 2006, the City of Abbotsford held a city-wide referendum that yielded a majority vote in favour of developing a professional public art gallery and local history museum. Community consultations were held to identify the guiding principles for the design and operation of the new facility. The resulting priorities were that it be a center of excellence, a community hub, and a flexible, welcoming space that encourages community participation and actively integrates disciplines.

The new organization was incorporated as the Abbotsford Culture Centre in July 2008, operating under the name The Reach Gallery Museum. The aspirational quality of the name evokes the act of reaching out to the diverse and growing community, and to reaching new levels of cultural knowledge and understanding. It can also be read as an acronym which stands for Regional Arts, Culture, and Heritage. 

The Reach is a registered, not-for-profit charitable organization led by a committed volunteer Board of Directors drawn from the community at large.

The purpose-built, 20,000 square foot LEEDS certified facility opened in September 2008, serving a primary audience of the citizens residing in metropolitan Abbotsford and a larger secondary audience from across BC’s Lower Mainland. The Reach also welcomes visitors from across the country and around the world.

As the only professionally operated public art gallery in the Fraser Valley, The Reach plays a key role in the development of regional arts practitioners and audiences. The Reach is also vital to the preservation and research of community history, holding significant artifact and archival collections and providing historical resources and programming for audiences of all ages.

Now in its second decade, The Reach has become an award-winning hub of cultural activity, providing audiences with a robust range of exhibitions, programs, and experiences, sharing its exhibitions with venues across the country, publishing unique curatorial research, and nurturing the growth of the artistic, historical, and cultural communities in Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley.