In 1989, The University of Lethbridge Alumni Association established their Alumnus of the Year Award to recognize those individuals who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and earned international reputations in their chosen fields. This year’s recipient is Alfred Bogusky, Director of the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Alf Bogusky graduated from The University of Lethbridge in 1975 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and embarked on a road that would inspire an appreciation of the visual arts among people of all ages; attract new participants to art gallery activities; and enhance the support of artists and art enthusiasts.
Beginning his career in 1976 as Gallery Assistant with the Southern Alberta Art Gallery, Alf Bogusky quickly advanced through the ranks. In 1977 he became Assistant Curator and in 1979, Director Curator.
In 1985, the Art Gallery of Windsor recruited him as their Director and seven years later he joined the Edmonton Art Gallery. While in Edmonton, he revitalized the gallery, set it on a path of increasing attendance and attracted significant donations to its permanent collection.
1996, Alf Bogusky became Director of the Vancouver Art Gallery. In this role, he is responsible for enhancing the quality of program development and targeting it to the community at large as well as building on the successes and long history of the institution.
In Alf Bogusky’s position with the Vancouver Art Gallery, he is a leader who works well with a wide cross section of the community. He is committed to the advancement of a more central role for art galleries and his record demonstrates his success in that regards.
Alf Bogusky has been described as an innovator and a renovator. He planned the successful renovation of the Art Gallery of Windsor in 1989 and set the stage for major redevelopment in the Edmonton Art Gallery. Currently, he is working on a plan to expand the Vancouver Art Gallery to accommodate rapid growth in its collections and an increased popularity in the community.
Alf Bogusky is credited with attracting higher audience participation, contributing to the field of art gallery management, and stabilizing the financial position of the galleries in which he has worked.
The University of Lethbridge Alumni Association is honoured today to acknowledge the dedication and achievements of Alf Bogusky by recognizing him as the Alumnus of the Year.