No Red Carpets. Just Open Doors.
For over 35 years, the Alternator has been community-built and artist-run. No exclusive lounges, no paywalled galas—just independent art, 100% free and open to everyone in Kelowna.
Whether you give $5 or $500, your support directly fuels our space, our artists, and our community programs.
Our 2026 Fall Donor Drive is Now Live!
Help us raise $2,850 and welcome 10 new Vanguard Alliance members to keep our gallery independent and free to all.
IMAGE: Participant engaging with Ryan! Feddersen’s ‘Seeking Visions for a Better World’.
At the Alternator, we believe art is essential for a vibrant, empathetic community.
Your generosity directly enables us to:
Empower Artists: Provide crucial professional fees, development opportunities, and exhibition spaces for emerging and established artists. Did you know the median income for artists is significantly lower than other professions? Your support helps build sustainable careers.
Enrich Our Community: Offer free and low-cost public programming, workshops, and artist talks that bring diverse people together, fostering connection and dialogue. Studies show art participation improves mental well-being!
Champion Innovation: Serve as a vital platform for artistic experimentation and critical discourse, pushing boundaries and challenging perceptions in contemporary art.
Cultivate Cultural Vibrancy: Ensure a strong, accessible arts scene in Kelowna that enriches lives and strengthens our collective identity.
Every dollar you give directly fuels our mission.
Here’s how your support can make a tangible difference:
$25: Covers setup and materials for community discussions and creative practice workshops.
$50: Provides fair-wage CARFAC compensation for an exhibiting artist, presenter, or speaker.
$100: Covers physical installation hardware, hanging supplies, and gallery prep for our 20 annual exhibitions.
$250: Underwrites technical prep, gallery setup, and promotion for curated and community gallery shows.
$500+: Fuels ambitious public programming, artist residencies, and community dialogues.
Donations can take several forms, including planned monthly or one-time donations. Your contribution can be targeted at Community Programming, Professional Development, or Professional Exhibitions, depending on where you’d most like to direct your support.
If you would prefer to support the Alternator in ways beyond a financial contribution, equally valuable to us are your time and attention. Get in touch to volunteer with us, and share our activities within your circles to raise awareness of the work we do!
Join us in person!
Experience what community support makes possible: Drop by the opening reception for the inaugural edition of our new annual members exhibition, The Edit 2026 // Sustained Practice (featuring artists aged 55+), on Friday, November 20, 2026. Free, open to all, and no dress code required!
Hear From Our Community
“I would totally recommend the Alternator, it is a warm, nurturing, exciting place full of unique and wonderful exhibitions.”
- Gallery Visitor
“My Exhibition… was a turning point in pushing my expectations around making and displaying my art. This experience gave me freedom to explore new avenues for my practice and understand how I can communicate my work in different ways.”
- Exhibiting Artist