Tania Willard: Curator
Tania Willard, Secwepemc Nation, has been working with aboriginal youth, community, story and the arts for over 10 years. An honours graduate from the University of Victoria, her groundbreaking work with Redwire magazine, a national aboriginal youth magazine, led the organization to be one of the first independent aboriginal youth-run arts and media organizations. Willard has since transferred her skills and passion to her work as an artist and graphic designer. Again, the focus of her work in this field is the aboriginal community, the arts, health and social justice. Recently completing an artist in residency with Gallery Gachet in Vancouver’s DTES, a writer in residency with Native Women in the Arts and the Banff Centre fiction residency, Tania’s experience as an artist is growing. Recently, working with grunt gallery to coordinate their community arts conference and publication, Live in public: The Art of Engagement and recent online gallery projects like Dana Claxton’s retrospective and the First Visions website has led Willard to an interest in Curatorial Practices. A variety of skills and experience contribute to Tania’s unique and passionate work in the arts. “I believe we all have a story to share,” she says. “The stories of this land, our cultures and our experiences enrich our lives.”