![240514-221a_Launch-PM-KKI09416-scaled-e1720033053840](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/240514-221a_Launch-PM-KKI09416-scaled-e1720033053840.jpg?ver=1.0.175)
Organizing Values
Communal
- Accountable to community and neighbours
- Communal self-organizing
- Embracing complex conversations
- Moving at the pace of trust
- No market housing in battleground neighbourhoods
Equitable
- Access as an ongoing practice
- Anti-poverty
- Anti-racism
- In right relationships with Indigenous Nations
- Nurturing relationships amongst cultures and across generations
- Youth empowerment
Pragmatic
- Instrumentalizing dominant structures against themselves (Billy-Ray Belcourt)
- Repairing infrastructure(s)
- Nurturing ecosystem(s)
- Regenerating the art and design sector
Joy of Cultural Work
- Anti-disposability (no start and no end)
- Artists work as essential
- Kinship and kindness as method
- Love as process
- Transparent communication with artists
History
Beginning as a student-led initiative in 2005, the organization was initially animated by an opposition to the division between contemporary art and design. Leaving the university grounds in 2008 to establish its first public exhibition space, the organization would be shaped by the history and upheavals of its new home in Chinatown, the embattled neighbourhood itself a microcosm of a global economic recession and the transformation of Vancouver before and after the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Board
Personnel
![221a_headshot-5675](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/221a_headshot-5675-scaled.jpeg?ver=1.0.175)
Brian McBay
Executive Director![Photograph of Afuwa by Soloman Chiniquay](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Afuwa-portrait-by-Soloman-Chiniquay-6-scaled.jpeg?ver=1.0.175)
Afuwa
Associate Director![Sol-portrait – 2021 – garden_ 05](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sol-portrait-2021-garden_-05-edited-1-2.jpeg?ver=1.0.175)
Soloman Chiniquay
x̱aw̓s shew̓áy̓《新生林》Artist![Geo reading crop_TF](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Geo-reading-crop_TF-edited-5.jpeg?ver=1.0.175)
Tao Fei
Producer, Strategic Initiatives![Michelle-Fu](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2023-02-22-at-1.46.37-PM-298x400-1.png?ver=1.0.175)
Michelle Fu 符之欣
Head of Admin & Finance![laura](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/resized/2024/02/laura-edited-scaled-1200x0.jpeg?ver=1.0.175)
Laura Fukumoto
Governance Coordinator![IMG_1297](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_1297-scaled.jpg?ver=1.0.175)
Alia Hijaab
Membership & Events Coordinator![_221a_16](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/221a_16-edited.jpeg?ver=1.0.175)
Valeen Jules
x̱aw̓s shew̓áy̓《新生林》Artist![IMG_2053](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_2053.jpg?ver=1.0.175)
Kiyoshi Whitley
Building Technician![jbetterheadshot](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/jbetterheadshot.jpeg?ver=1.0.175)
Jastej Luddu
Programmer, Story & Collection![DQ Headshot (square format)](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DQ-Headshot-square-format-scaled.jpg?ver=1.0.175)
Dana Qaddah
Anti-Racism Program Coordinator![d5f6f6_b7af76fec37d448399b292e415c8425b~mv2](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/d5f6f6_b7af76fec37d448399b292e415c8425bmv2.jpeg?ver=1.0.175)
Kwiigay iiwaans
Head of Programs![28-Oli_reflexology](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/28-Oli_reflexology-edited-3.jpeg?ver=1.0.175)
Oliver Barnes
x̱aw̓s shew̓áy̓《新生林》Artist![Photo by John Mutter](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/photo-scaled.jpeg?ver=1.0.175)
Madison Mayhew
Administrator![me](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/me-scaled-e1715199551281.jpeg?ver=1.0.175)
Jesse McKee
Head of Strategy![romila+_+headshot+_+1000](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/romila_headshot_1000.png?ver=1.0.175)
Romila
Head of Communications![CoXpP_AG_400x400](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CoXpP_AG_400x400.jpeg?ver=1.0.175)
Carmut Me 米家宓
Head of Cultural Spaces R&D![image (1)](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/image-1.png?ver=1.0.175)
Samantha Nock
Equity Advisor![221a_headshot-5683](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/221a_headshot-5683-scaled.jpeg?ver=1.0.175)
Luca Seccafien
Head of Advancement![Headshot_TaniaDR_Large](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Headshot_TaniaDR_Large.jpg?ver=1.0.175)
Tania De Rozario
Advancement Coordinator![IMG_7403 (1)](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_7403-1.jpeg?ver=1.0.175)
jaz whitford
x̱aw̓s shew̓áy̓《新生林》Outreach & Program Developer![image-17](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image-17-edited-1.png?ver=1.0.175)
Stephan Wright
Head of Facilities & Production![221a_headshot-5697](https://221a.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/221a_headshot-5697-scaled.jpeg?ver=1.0.175)