When Lisa Howie took over as director of the venerable Bermuda National Gallery (BNG) early this year, one of the first things she did was invite in a crowd of bikers.

Starting in February hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts visited the gallery to see a revolutionary new art show 'Changing Gears: The Art of the Bermuda Motorcycle'. The show featured 19 "tricked-out" motorbikes, including antique Velo Solex, and more modern bikes done by artists such as Robbie Rogers, Nalia Silvia, Craig Frazer, Steven Flood, Paul Martins and Dean Boorman.

The show has been so popular that it has been extended to August 7, along with two other BNG shows, 'African Art in Motion', and 'Contemporary Conversations with Kevin Morris'.

"There were some people who said 'what is the BNG coming to'," said Mrs. Howie, who took over from previous director Laura Gorham in December. It became official in March.

But for Mrs. Howie the question isn't so much 'what is the BNG coming to', but 'who is coming to the BNG'.

"The same mission statement applies," said Mrs. Howie. "We are still endeavouring to bring the world of art to Bermuda, and Bermuda's art to the world. That hasn't changed. My goal is to embrace a wider demographic. We are not changing the foundation, but reaching our arms wider."

Mrs. Howie hopes to challenge local perceptions of the nature of a National Gallery.

"We have two big missions," she said. "One is to reach the many people who don't embrace us. We want people to know that we are offering free education and important local experiences.

For those who are with us, we want to continue to provide provocative exhibitions and educational programmes."

Every morning she goes to buy coffee, and tries to convince the people at the coffee shop to come across the street and visit the gallery.

"They don't want to walk across the street," she said. "They say they don't like art. But art is such broad thing, and means so many different things to different people.

"I ask them what they are thinking about when they say they don't like art."

She said the City Hall itself can be a daunting place to people not used to visiting art galleries and museums. For this reason the BNG took another step out of the norm, by moving the entire motorcycle exhibit outside for a day.

"We were meeting people on the front steps," she said. "They had no knowledge of the inside exhibition. They were on their way to town. And they were absolutely captivated. Those are the types of events we need to hold where we are taking the art and discussions outside of the space."

Another of Mrs. Howie's goals is to make the ancronym BNG a household word.

"I would like to see us brand the BNG in the way that the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) is branded in New York or the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) is branded," said Mrs. Howie. "That would be helpful."

Mrs. Howie still retains the educational duties she had before becoming director, and now handles development also.

"We went from a staff of seven, five full-time and two part-time, to a staff of three full-time and one intern," said Mrs. Howie. "That wasn't planned so far as I know. But it dovetailed perfectly with us having a tricky financial situation this year. So it worked out for the best."

The result of the staff shortage is that Mrs. Howie is involved with everything at the BNG.

"I think it is important for me to have a sense of what is happening in every facet of the gallery. I am not a control freak actually. I operate on a democratic leadership style. I am very much about sharing power, but at the moment we don't have too many people to share it with."

The BNG is in the process of hiring a new office administrator, and is in desperate need of more volunteers. Volunteers run the front desk, and help with evening and weekend lectures.

"The slogan is 'BNG and Me'," said Mrs. Howie. "We have membership fees that are lower than most other art institutions on the Island. Ours start at $35 while other places start at $55. Our rates are extremely reasonable. It is $10 for students and seniors, and $60 for families. Kids get discounts on their art camps."

Benefits to various higher level tiers of membership include invitation to art openings, catalogues, reciprocal membership in galleries around the world, and even a free day or evening to use the BNG space for corporate events. But admission to the gallery itself is free to all. "If we were charging entrance, as we used to do, we could guarantee a certain level of income," she said. "But we want the BNG to be for the community. Funding is our most significant issue. Until we are able to secure corporate sponsorship, it would be ideal to have government sponsorship at a high level on an annual basis.

"We are really looking for corporate sponsors who want to identify their product with a commitment to arts and culture in Bermuda. Our chairman, Gary Phillips, is fantastic with assisting with that endeavour. On my side I am looking for grants for individual appeals."

In the autumn the BNG will be connecting with the Bermuda National Trust (BNT) to produce a special exhibition to recognise Bermuda's 400th anniversary.

We will be combining BNT collections and our collections," said Mrs. Howie. "There is an opportunity to embrace those people who are BNT supporters who might not necessarily have the BNG on their radar. This autumn exhibition is a great opportunity.

"Educationally, it will completely dovetail whatever Bermuda educational curriculum is out there."

The combined exhibit will not just be about the visual arts, but will combine historical artefacts with art, while embracing literature, songs, and other art forms, such as film.

Mrs. Howie has a masters of philosophy in education and bachelors degrees in literature and education. "I have no minor in art history, but I studied art history and have always been captivated by it," she said.

Mrs. Howie herself is not a painter, although she has dabbled in it. Her true passion is poetry, and she has had several poems published in several anthologies.

"It is hard to find the time and mindspace to write," said Mrs. Howie. "I am not a disciplined writer. I haven't ever given it enough time in my life. It is very much a hobby. Right now I am trying to keep up with the reading that I need to do for this job. "

She is married to photographer Scott Hill. The two of them often vie for wall space to display their photographs and collected art work.

For more information about the BNG see their website at www.bng.bm.