Artist left in tears after ACT cancels show gets a reprieve

A Vancouver artist who was left distraught after her upcoming three-month exhibition was abruptly cancelled by the ACT gallery in Maple Ridge has received a reprieve from the city that is set to take over control of the facility at the start of 2026.

Multidisciplinary artist Katherine Duclos posted a tear-filled video on Instagram and Facebook last week, saying she was set for an exhibition of her work at the local gallery from January to March next year, but had received an email from the gallery representative saying it had been cancelled.

“And so they’re just cancelling my show that I’ve worked on for a year,” said Duclos. “For a year. They’re just cancelling it and I can’t do anything. I am devastated and I have a whole body of work. I’m a disabled autistic artist and this was like going to be my biggest solo show yet.”

Duclos said she felt as though she had been “thrown under the bus.”

The excuse she was given by the ACT representative was that contracts were being cancelled because the City of Maple Ridge is taking control of the facility on Jan. 1, 2026.

The Ridge contacted the city on Sept. 25 for clarification about why the show would be cancelled and received would that the exhibition would be saved.

“The City of Maple Ridge is aware of recent cancellations of upcoming arts and theatre events at the ACT Arts Centre by the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Arts Council, including Katherine Duclos’ solo exhibition,” reads a statement by the city. “We completely understand the frustration this has caused for artists, performers, and community members who were looking forward to these shows.”

The city recently announced it was firing the Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Arts Council as the managers of the ACT.

“Our intention is to maintain all existing bookings that had previously been arranged,” said the city. “As we receive information from the Arts Council, City staff will be reaching out directly to clients with scheduled exhibitions, performances, and events to confirm their bookings and ensure a smooth transition.
“We have contacted Katherine and will be developing a plan that honours her exhibit and ensures it can still take place.”

Duclos posted a message to her supporters on Sept. 25 with the good news.

“This was a case of (the) left hand acting without the right hand knowledge,” Duclos wrote on her Facebook page.

Duclos said she has worked “her ass off” during her father’s illness and death to prepare the show, which will be a “highly tactile, immersive exhibition that would attract families and children.”

The city said in its statement that it will be getting in touch with other artists about their events in 2026.
“Supporting artists and the performing arts is a priority for the City. We are committed to working collaboratively with our community to provide a stable and inclusive environment for creativity to thrive as we move into this next chapter for the ACT.”

The Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Arts Council responded to be replaced by the city by saying it will be a “costly mistake” for the city to end an agreement that’s been in place for 22 years.

The city says it spent a year negotiating with the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Arts Council. The arts council issued a statement, however, saying the city made an unfair offer that it couldn’t accept.

“The City presented the Arts Council with an untenable ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ agreement that would have greatly diminished the Arts Council’s capacity and future,” said Curtis Pendleton, the artistic and executive director. “It had been our hope that the City would engage in good-faith dialogue with us and with an expert third-party consultant to address the many real challenges arts centres are facing across Canada, and to work together on solutions. Instead, City Council made a unilateral decision, without any advance notice to us before sharing their decision publicly. We believe that this decision will ultimately be judged as a very hasty and costly mistake.”

The city says it spends an estimated $1 million towards the performing arts centre – a figure the arts council said it “disputes.”

“The Arts Council notes that it operates the Centre as a not-for-profit organization, with a budget of approximately $2.5M annually, and that the City contributes less than a third to its current operation,” the arts council statement says.

A transition team has been established, with the city saying that it hopes to retain the ACT staff, volunteers and contractors wherever possible to maintain continuity. Existing bookings and ticketed events will be honoured, and community groups with upcoming productions will be supported throughout the transition, ensuring a seamless experience for patrons, artists and arts organizations.