ANDARA Gallery

In the Fall of 2017, Tara Wilkinson and Andrew Csafordi – then artists and co-owners of three-season art studios and galleries on their County property since 2009 – stood in their driveway looking at an old shed that had become an eyesore. They had long dreamt of building a new, year-round art gallery. “I think it’s now or never. Shall we do this?” she asked. Andrew agreed. They shook hands and officially kick-started their next big adventure.

First, they made a call to the County’s planning office. From meetings to discuss what might be possible; sketches on napkins translated into professional drawings; acquiring permits, then dismantling the old shed followed by a year of construction, each step was nudged along by inspectors and tradespeople who guided the couple.

In May of 2019, they finally opened the doors to ANDARA Gallery, a light-filled, contemporary art gallery showcasing fine art paintings and photography over two floors. In addition to the space and works of art, ANDARA quickly became known for its colourful exterior art wall.

ANDARA Gallery is now a thriving year-round business, despite having to close for long stretches due to the pandemic. During Covid, Wilkinson and Csafordi wanted to help those struggling with isolation. They installed a 16-foot Christmas tree and festive seating area where families could come and have a free “Holiday Photo in the Barn” in exchange for a donation to PEC hospital’s “Back the Build” campaign. To date, over 2,500 people have been photographed, raising over $30,000.

These efforts – in addition to serving as proud PEC tourism ambassadors to the tens of thousands of visitors to their galleries since 2009; chairing the PEC Arts Trail for the past six years; organizing multi-artist community events (as well as their own exhibitions); and serving on various organizing committees for local art programs and events have earned them several accolades and awards.

Wilkinson and Csafordi were recipients of the Award of Excellence for “Outstanding Contribution to the Arts” from both the PEC Chamber of Commerce (2023) and PEC Arts Council (2015). ANDARA Gallery won a Traveller’s Choice Award from TripAdvisor in 2021, placing it among the Top 10% of attractions worldwide. The gallery’s been consistently rated 5-stars on both Google and TripAdvisor, and is a top arts destination in PEC.

In addition to celebrating ANDARA’s 5th Anniversary in 2024 (and the 15th Anniversary of operating their studios and galleries in PEC), they’ve also launched ANDARA STUDIO – offering mini 2-3 hour painting and drawing workshops “on demand” for visitors looking for an art experience on short notice. The gallery returns as a satellite venue for the PEC Jazz Festival in August 2024, and the 5th Annual “Holiday Photo in the Barn” returns in November and December 2024.

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