The Cochrane-based, Route 22 Artist Collective Gallery showcases over 40 multi-discipline, local artists and it's now into its sixth month of operation.

Launching a collective gallery during a pandemic hasn't been ideal, but the team is optimistic and looking forward to bigger and brighter days ahead.

The non-profit recently received two "generous community grants" from the Town of Cochrane and Rocky View County totalling $10,000.

President of Route 22, Lara Kruger says that the grants will provide much-needed funding to support volunteer development and community arts programs.

"We've been applying for various different grants all the way along to help us launch our programming," says Kruger. "Part of the vision for our collective is to not just provide a gallery space and opportunities for visual artists there, but also to provide education and programming to the community and grow the arts in the Cochrane area in general."

Kruger explains that in addition to showcasing local artists through the retail space, Route 22 has a large area behind the gallery and gift shop dedicated to the upcoming arts programming. She says that the grant funding will be used to set that up.

"Our back area behind the gallery is a large area that we're setting up as an educational space," says Kruger. "All of the things needed to set that up --the volunteer and leadership development, the technology and zoom licencing; they will really build our whole capacity as an organization."

As they launch the initial phase of programming, they are putting a call out for artists and educators interested in teaching classes and workshops.

"We have a lot of great talent within our group and there's a lot of arts educators," says Kruger. "We also really want to expand that and bring in everyone that we can from around the area that has interest and experience."

Kruger says that their goal is to grow membership beyond 60 this year and host events and programming in the post-pandemic days ahead.

Anyone interested in participating in upcoming programming can email info@route22gallery.com.