Jan Wade: Soul Power, Family Day at the Vancouver Art Gallery, February 2022,
Photo: Anita Bonnarens
Today, the Vancouver Art Gallery, one of North America’s most innovative visual arts institutions, is thrilled to announce that, starting July 1, all children and youth 18 years old and under will receive complimentary admission to the Gallery. This initiative has been made possible by a generous $1 million gift from the April 1 Foundation of Vancouver and will be in place over the next five years as the Gallery prepares to move to a new building, planned to open in 2027.
Founded in 1931, the Gallery is known for its adventurous exhibitions, extensive public programs and emphasis on advancing research on historical and contemporary art from British Columbia and around the world. Since the Audain Foundation’s transformational donation in November 2021, the Gallery has continued to be successful in its fundraising efforts, and, with this gift from the April 1 Foundation of Vancouver, the Gallery will be even more accessible, especially to young people, across the province.
Annie Pootoogook, Listening to the Radio, 2005–06, in Kids Take Over, Members Hours,
April 2022, Photo: Scott Little
“The Gallery is a place to meet and share ideas. With the support of the April 1 Foundation of Vancouver, thousands of children and youth 18 years old and under will have the opportunity to engage with art and foster their own creativity,” said Anthony Kiendl, Director and CEO of the Vancouver Art Gallery. “Learning and Community are among our core priorities. With this initiative and the launch of our new exhibit Kids Take Over, the Gallery is playing an active role in improving accessibility and fostering creative thinking and problem solving for all ages and backgrounds. We can’t wait to welcome even more of our youngest visitors to the Gallery.”
Grade 4/5 students from Queen Victoria Annex, Vancouver, participate in Kids
Take Over, December 2021, Photo: Anita Bonnarens
The Vancouver Art Gallery recently launched the exhibition, Kids Take Over, which is running until September 11, 2022. Kids Take Over showcases artworks from the Gallery’s collection alongside texts and drawings by local students, ages five to eighteen. The Gallery’s rotunda and alcoves have been transformed into dynamic interactive spaces that feature regular programming for families and kids, including a workshop for teens led by artist Chantal Gibson. Highlighting young voices—and a future generation of art lovers—Kids Take Over engages with children and youth to highlight their creativity, while bringing new voices into the Gallery and fresh points of view on the collection.
XU ZHEN®, Calm, 2013, in RESTLESS: Recent Acquisitions, Members Hours, April 2022,
Photo: Scott Little
The Vancouver Art Gallery will be moving to its new home, located at the intersections of West Georgia, Cambie and Beatty streets, and will continue to build on its dedication to children and youth. The new Gallery will serve over one million visitors from across the world each year, including 100,000 youth in educational programming. The Gallery will be announcing further changes to its current membership program in the near future.
