Volunteer Profile: Gabrielle Campbell

Meet Gabrielle Campbell, one of the Gallery’s dedicated School Programs Volunteers!

Volunteers are important members of the Gallery team, and they are integral to the Gallery’s School Programs. Gallery Docents volunteer their time to lead school groups on exhibition tours and assist with hands-on workshops, sharing their knowledge and passion for the arts with generations of Gallery visitors.

In honour of National Volunteer Week from April 14 to 20, we’re highlighting the contributions of long-time Gallery Docent, Gabrielle Campbell. Gabrielle has been a docent since 2002 and has led thousands of school groups on tours of historical and contemporary exhibitions at the Gallery.

1) How long have you been volunteering at the Vancouver Art Gallery? Tell us a little bit about what you do.

I started training as a docent at the Vancouver Art Gallery in 2002, so it has been 22 years. As a docent, I give one-hour tours of current exhibitions to school groups of all ages, Grades 2 through 12. To me, a very important part of my job is to inspire curiosity about the artwork and the artists themselves and to turn the tour into an opportunity for conversations. It has been a success if the students really enjoy themselves at the Gallery and want to return.

2) What does the Gallery mean to you? Why do you choose to give your time to the Gallery?

The Vancouver Art Gallery is an important part of what makes this an exciting and vibrant city. It has outgrown its current location, with so many important works stored away downstairs because there is no room to permanently display them. I want to see the Gallery grow and reflect the diversity of Vancouver, and I am excited about the new building that has just broken ground. I hope I am still a docent when it opens its doors.

3) Why do you think art education is so important?

Art education is about so much more than just looking at a painting on the wall. It explores complex ideas, world history, social activism and diverse cultures and traditions. Our School Tours encourage students to engage in conversations about difficult subjects. And hopefully continue those conversations when they leave the Gallery.

4) What was one of your favourite exhibitions at the Gallery and/or one of the best experiences you’ve had here?

There have been so many excellent exhibits over the last 20 years that it is difficult to choose! I think two that really stand out in my memory are: Beat Nation: Art, Hip Hop and Aboriginal Culture and the introduction to so many amazing Indigenous artists; and Mash Up: The Birth of Modern Culture, which took up all 4 floors of the Gallery and showcased the work of 156 artists. However, I would have to add that the exhibitions that really excited the students included Takashi Murakami: The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg and KRAZY: The Delirious World of Anime and Comics.

5) Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Being a docent at the Vancouver Art Gallery is like being enrolled in an on-going university level art history course. The high points are always those exhibits which showcase works by contemporary artists who are able to come and talk to us directly about their practice and inspiration. But the true benefit has been the opportunity to meet all the other docent volunteers, many of whom have turned into wonderful friends over the past 22 years.