The new role expands support for exhibitions, artists, and community programming while strengthening Xchanges’ capacity for future growth.
Xchanges Gallery and Studios is delighted to announce that we have received a $25,000 grant from the Victoria Foundation through the Vital Stream of its flagship Community Grants Program. The funding will support the hiring of Alex Jensen as our part-time Gallery Program Coordinator from July 2026 through June 2027.
This new position represents an important step in strengthening Xchanges’ organizational capacity as we continue to grow our programming and serve Victoria’s arts community. Building on the excellent coordination Alex has already provided for our long-running Life Drawing program, the Gallery Program Coordinator role will expand support for exhibition planning, artist engagement, communications, volunteer coordination, and community programming.
The position will also enable our volunteer Board of Directors to focus on strategic priorities, including advancing the acquisition of a permanent cultural space for artists and community programming through the Islands Arts and Culture Land Trust of BC (ICLT). Our long-term goal is to make this position permanent through sustainable funding.
Alex Jensen is a queer multimedia artist and designer living and working on the unceded traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples. His practice explores themes of memory, disability, queer identity, and media studies. Throughout his career, Alex has worked with numerous arts organizations in a variety of capacities, including Arnica Artist-Run Centre, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Or Gallery, the Victoria Arts Council, ReIssue, IMAA, and Island Chamber Winds. Alex also maintains an independent design practice.
“We couldn’t be happier and are deeply grateful to the Victoria Foundation for investing in this next stage of Xchanges’ growth,” said Heidi Bergstrom, President of Xchanges Gallery and Studios. “Since 2018, we have recognized the importance of transitioning from a solely volunteer-run organization to one supported by dedicated staff. While previous internships through IMAA helped us build capacity, this grant allows us to take an important step toward establishing a sustainable staffing model. We are especially pleased to welcome Alex into this role. Since first working with Xchanges and our community partners on the Physical Intersections Digital Collaborations project, and more recently coordinating our Life Drawing program, Alex has demonstrated exceptional creativity, professionalism, and commitment to our community. We look forward to the contributions he will make over the coming year.”
This investment will help Xchanges continue to provide meaningful opportunities for artists while strengthening the organization’s ability to deliver exhibitions, public programming, and community engagement as we work toward a permanent cultural home for the arts in Victoria.
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