The Winnipeg Art Gallery, incorporated in 1963, has a long history in the Winnipeg arts community. Precursors to the Winnipeg Art Gallery are the Winnipeg Museum of Fine Arts under the Fine Arts Committee of the Winnipeg Industrial Bureau, The Winnipeg Gallery and School of Art, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery Association. Celebrated as the first civic gallery in Western Canada, the gallery was first located at the Winnipeg Industrial Bureau (known as the Winnipeg Board of Trade by 1924), then moved to the Civic Auditorium when it opened in 1932. The pressing need for a new building was met in 1972 when the location at 300 Memorial Boulevard was opened. The new premises allowed for increased operations and staff levels. The Winnipeg Art Gallery's mandate as spelled out in the 1963 Articles of Incorporation is to collect, preserve and exhibit works of art. The mandate is put into action by two separate but mutually dependent forces; governance is provided by the Board of Governors, and management is provided through gallery staff. As part of the professional staff of the gallery, the Director is the link between the two forces. Under the Director, the activities of the Winnipeg Art Gallery are managed by Departments within the institution; including Finance and Administration, Curatorial, Development, Human Resources, Education and Public Programs, and Communications. Custodial History: The custodial history of early records of the gallery is unknown. Since the construction of the premises at 300 Memorial Building, records have been stored on-site until their transfer to the Archives.