END OF ALEXANDER
What’s happening to the Helen Pitt Gallery Artist Run Centre

Where?
The Helen Pitt Gallery Artist Run Centre has been forced to move from the current gallery location at 102-148 Alexander Street due to the loss of crucial gaming grant funding. Unable to pay rent beyond October 2009, the gallery put out a call for donated hosting in order to survive the outrageous 50% cut to its operating budget. Our friends at 221a Artist Run Centre have generously offered to host the gallery’s administrative office effective November 1st. Of all the programming we had planned for the 2009-10 year, we will be able to mount one last CARFAC fee paying exhibition (Slated for December – January) thanks to the support and camaraderie of the Or Gallery who have offered to host this show. Starting in January 2010, the 221a Artist Run Centre will allow the Helen Pitt Gallery to temporarily program their gallery space at 221a East Georgia. During this time we hope to work closely with the board at 221a, our co-op student curators and members of the emerging arts community in mounting a series of student exhibitions, fundraisers and collaborative installations. By Spring 2010 we hope to be better situated to honour some of the outstanding CARFAC fee paying programming plans that have currently been suspended.

How?
As a further consequence of Provincial funding cuts, the Board of Directors are developing a new infrastructure for the operation of the gallery. Until new streams of revenue and our fundraising efforts stabilize, this will likely mean the suspension of the Director/Curator position and the development of a consistent, part-time administrative position to complement a series of short-term curatorial residencies. Working with outgoing Director/Curator Paul Kajander, the Board of Directors of the Unit Pitt Society for Art and Critical Awareness are determined to create a sustainable and revitalizing strategic plan that will create new opportunities and continued growth in defiance of the hostile and disrespectful situation that has been made a reality for British Columbia’s cultural community.

Who, What, Whys?
See some of the links below:

* http://www.helenpittgallery.org
* http://221a.ca
* http://www.stopbcartscuts.ca
* http://tatlin.com/bcartworkers