News

221A seeks Letters of Interest for Storefront Space at 236 E Pender St.

June 28, 2018

Due: July 15, 2018

221A is seeking Letters of Interest from non-profit art, culture or social service collectives or organizations to operate a 1,200 square foot storefront unit at 236 E Pender St. Formerly used by UNIT/PITT Projects as an art gallery, the space will be available for sublease beginning September 1, 2018. Through the assistance of the City of Vancouver DTES Capital Grants, 221A will be making upgrades to the functionality of the space prior to occupancy, including updated storefront glazing and security with additional upgrades to the common areas of the facility in winter 2018 and spring 2019.

236 E Pender Street is a 9,000 square foot property leased by non-profit organization 221A, that is shared by approximately 22 artist studios and a storefront commercial space. The building is located in Chinatown and is operated through a gross-rate cost-recovery model. This model sets the rental rates based on the expectation that the total revenue from the building recovers the total rent, property taxes and operating expenses from the building.

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236 E Pender St

April 11, 2018

In 2013, non-profit artist organizations 221A and UNIT/PITT Projects entered into a joint venture agreement to renovate and operate 236 E Pender Street, to become the UNIT/PITT gallery and artists’ studio. 221A led early renovations of the 9,000 square foot building and UNIT/PITT became the active manager of the gallery space and studios.

Understanding that their most generative, fulfilling and satisfying programming is not gallery-based, but better realized in digital media, broadcasting, publishing, and public actions, UNIT/PITT Projects have determined that they will seek a new home for their activities. In light of these operational shifts, 221A assumed the management of the storefront unit and studio spaces under a cost-recovery operating model as of April 2018.

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The Sculpture Fund: Amy Nugent, 221A Fellow

March 23, 2018

Amy Nugent is a Vancouver-based cultural worker and resource developer. As the former president of Artspeak’s board, she has been recognized with a 2016 Mayor’s Arts Award from the City of Vancouver. Her own research over the past five years has focused on the history and restitution of sculptors Frances Loring (1887–1968) and Florence Wyle (1881–1968), the current state of Canadian art collections and the limited acquisition funds to support them.  

From March to July, 2018, Nugent will be a 221A fellow. Her project continues to examine the history of artists Frances Loring and Florence Wyle, who were crucial members of Canada’s early 20th century art history. The contributions of these artists has been unfairly eluded in national art history, and as a way to fulfill the final wishes in their last wills and testaments, Nugent’s research will develop The Sculpture Fund, a resource available to collecting institutions, public galleries, museums and schools for the commissioning and acquisition of sculpture work by woman and non-binary artists. A collection at Pollyanna 圖書館 Library will accompany Nugent’s research, and public programs are forthcoming. Future program announcements relating to The Sculpture Fund will be posted at https://polly-anna.ca

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