Ruth McCullough
Ruth McCullough came to the Yukon in 1979 on a temporary assignment, seconded from the Alberta Government to work as the arts consultant in the sport and recreation office. She created touring programs, the artist in the school program, community arts workshops, and mounted Yukon productions to tour to national arts festivals and exhibitions. She was curator of the Art Gallery of the Whitehorse Public Library, the first public gallery in the Yukon. Ruth expanded the Yukon Permanent Art Collection and the Art Bank and made collecting and displaying art for Yukoners a high priority.1)
In 1988, Ruth established the Law Centre Public Art Collection, the first of many public art commissioning projects. The Yukon Arts Centre was built in 1992 and the Arts Branch was formed. Ruth’s position evolved into developing and promoting the Yukon visual arts and crafts industry. She organized special exhibitions and commissions in the Yukon, Canada, and internationally.2)
Ruth has mentored artists and administrators and designed and implemented training programs for First Nations cultural workers. She provided insight, leadership and friendship to artists, volunteers, and community leaders. Ruth McCullough retired in 2007 after twenty-eight years with the Yukon Government.3)