Visual Arts Summit in Ottawa

This is my report from the Visual Arts Summit in Ottawa...
We had a fantastic day today - we (artist Shairl Honey and I) toured Vault 34, which houses the Portrait Gallery of Canada's archives at the Gatineau Preservation Centre. Not only did we see some great art and very valuable pieces (not to mention the incredible architecture of the building), but the tour hostess - Director General of the Portrait Gallery of Canada was riveting. She told the story behind all the paintings she showed us and her passion kept us engrossed in her every word. This was so far, and will likely continue to be the highlight of our trip, even though we had no idea what to expect when we got on the bus to go there. Initially we had thought perhaps the Preservation Centre was where they did restoration of art.
The first plenary session riled us a bit because one of the panel members is a Quebec female who voiced her displeasure about people discussing 'national.' I think it was a good choice to put her on the panel, though, because it really got everyone thinking and the discussion portion of the summit will be highly interesting and intense.
We have met some interesting people and have already been invited to Newfoundland to stay in a guest house next September.
At dinner we sat with gallery curator Catherine Elliot Shaw from McIntosh Gallery in London, gallery curator Lisa Daniels from Gallery Lambton in Sarnia, artist Nikko Sinclaire and Valorie Preston, photographer Jessie Parker, and Bonnie Silbert from Fusion - Ontario Clay and Glass Association. The dinner was in the Penthouse at the Crowne Plaza and talking about it would just be bragging, so I'll spare you that.
Tomorrow's first session is about education and access, interpretation and audience, and the afternoon session is about treasures and treasuries - collecting and exhibiting Canadian art. There are two discussion sessions tomorrow, so the day should be full of ideas from artists, curators, and other important people in the art world. I can't wait to share the update on the events.