221A Artist Run Centre is a non-profit organization that supports and facilitates dialogue between contemporary art and design. 2012 will mark the organizations fourth year of programming artistic and curatorial practices in Canada. Since its inception in 2005, the organization has quickly become a foothold for ‘Critical Design’ – an emerging field of contemporary art that seeks out a wider space for work that examines and challenges the application and implementation of design. The activity of design has been increasingly limited to market-oriented practices, where designers are left without a critical space for investigation around the lived effect of designed graphics, products and architecture – the use and development of social codes and conventions. 221A maintains assertive efforts to pay above CARFAC rates to curators and contemporary artists who work with or around these capacities.
The organization’s artistic vision comes principally from the Curatorial Residencies Committee. Made up of three to five curatorial residents annually, committee residents may include emerging or professional curators, or curatorial collectives, and are selected by the Executive Director through project proposals on an annual basis. Selected proposals must discuss a viewpoint, theory or approach to address the mandate of 221A. Projects take on the form of exhibitions, talks, workshops or publications, as well as but not limited to co-productions, social and dialogical practices, public art and performance projects.
| Board of Directors 2011-12 Allison Collins, President Laura Kozak, Vice-President Marianne Bos, Treasurer Sarah Todd, Secretary Jeff Werner Hamza Vora Chris Robson |
Past Board Members Michelle Fu Joji Fukushima Oliver Li Emilie Madill Kyle Duske Daniel Elnecave Michael Johnson Scott Piekema Jolene Mackie Sara Bogh Jensen Anne Cottingham Dylan Davies Carrie McKellar |
| Staff & Curatorial Residents Brian McBay, Executive Director Francisco-Fernando Granados Cayley Malo Jaz Halloran & Tracy Steffanucci Mandy Ginson Min Yoon Alex Buss & Ali Kenyon | Past Curatorial Residents Laura Kozak Kevin Hubbard Jonathan Tiong Dennis Rosenfeld Debra Zhou |
History:
Numerous students from Emily Carr University of Art and Design who desired a wider critical context and participatory learning space first started the organization in 2005 (then called NOART Artist Collective). Over the first two years, the student-led organization ran one-night, non-juried exhibitions called ‘Pacts’ that provided artists public space to exhibit, talk, and learn. Holding 12 Pacts between 2005 and 2007, the organization gave home to a diversity of artists, designers, and critics. The introduction of a dedicated space in Chinatown (2008) altered the activities of 221A to the new opportunities it presented. The space has provided the organization with the agency to execute more complex projects as well as present a wider array of programming.
Above: In the beginning, Feb 2008 (Photo Credit: Dan Kim)
Above: Construction, Apr 2008
Above: Exhibition photo, Halving by Joji Fukushima, Apr 2009 (Photo Credit: Oliver Li)
Above: Looking outwards, Feb 2010 (Photo Credit: Lydia Fu)
Support:
221A Artist Run Centre is funded through the generous support of government grants, foundations, and private donors who share a vision to provide qualitative space for the development, education and exploration of ideas and material arts. Additionally, 221A generates funds through the rental of studio spaces. 221A Artist Run Centre Society is a registered charity under the Income Tax Act and a non-profit organization incorporated under the BC Society Act.
We would like to acknowledge the generous support of:
City of Vancouver Cultural Grants
City of Vancouver 125th Anniversary Grants
City of Vancouver Cultural Infrastructure Grants
Canada Council for the Arts
BC Arts Council
Goethe Insitut
Canada Summer Jobs
Heritage Canada
Metro Vancouver (GVRD)
UBC School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture
Steam Whistle Brewing
Emily Carr University of Art and Design
Cygnus Group
Vancouver Review Magazine
SurfaceCollective.com
Walrus
PJ White Hardwoods
To donate online please click below:
*All donations will receive a charitable tax receipt