Each year over 1,500 students visit the gallery from Brandon and many rural towns. They participate in public school based art class programs and they visit exhibitions in the Gallery. The AGSM serves 16 school divisions and over 130 schools within the Southwestern Manitoba region. In addition the AGSM undertakes many support initiatives to rural allied arts councils and several art galleries.

Through a Canada – Manitoba Economic Development grant the AGSM has a one year term contract Outreach Coordinator who is strengthening program opportunities within small town schools and communities.

The AGSM has a unique position in Manitoba as the only fully professional art gallery outside of Winnipeg. Surrounding the Gallery are some 14 towns with populations over 1000 and 10 first nations reserves. The AGSM is serving as a ‘partnership hub’ to these communities whose role will develop a vibrant visual arts infrastructure in each smaller community.

The AGSM is currently building local community visual arts organizations who will be competent in the delivery of visual arts programs. The AGSM is focusing the transfer of expertise, the delivery of pilot initiatives, the building of pilot initiatives, and the building of volunteer arts organizations.

Current projects that the Outreach program has initiated include:
•Professional Development for teachers, including an internet based workshop
•Information seminars for arts councils in rural Manitoba
•Artist run workshops in outlying communities
•PowerPoint presentations and artists slide nights to the community at large