The Confederation Centre Art Gallery in Charlottetown has received one of its last shipments under a federal program that allows galleries to send art inexpensively across the country.

Jon Tupper says there will be fewer travelling exhibitions.
(CBC)

The Exhibition Transportation Service (ETS), which makes it easier for galleries across Canada to share artwork, is closing at the end of March.

On Tuesday, the gallery received a painting by an artist in Ontario who grew up on P.E.I.

Gallery director Jon Tupper worries that with the program's impending shutdown, it will become more difficult for Islanders to see creations by artists from other parts of the country. 

"It's important to bring this artist here to show the local community what one individual has gone on to do," says Tupper.

Private shipping will cost about four times as much as the ETS service charges, and Tupper believes that will lead to fewer exhibitions and few shared artworks across the country.

ETS driver Bill Somerton believes there is a sovereignty issue in the decision as well.

"I think we'll see some of the Americans come in here, so we'll have the Americans moving our national treasures," said Somerton.

It will cost considerably more to bring this Acadian painting to Charlottetown.
(CBC)

Tupper can already see the increased costs for upcoming exhibitions. He's looking at bringing in a painting from the U.S. for upcoming Acadian celebrations.

"It's the first image of an Acadian that was born on Prince Edward Island," says Tupper.

"We're barely going to be able to afford this. It's only because it's such a significant piece of work that we're going to be doing it. We're going to bite the bullet and do it, but we'll have to reconsider next time we're faced with this circumstance."

With fewer artworks being shipped, Canadians interested in seeing art from other parts of the country may have to travel more.