On Thursday B.C.'s provincial government pledged another $50M to the Vancouver Art Gallery's capital campaign, making the combined provincial contribution $100M, matching the federal government's contribution.
The VAG is now $80M short of its $400M target to build a mall five blocks east, to be called the Chan Centre for the Visual Arts, which the Chan Family got for their $40M contribution (the Chan Family also has its name on UBC's Chan Centre for the Performing Arts). Not clear whether the VAG will be the property manager of this mall, or one of its tenants.
Philanthropist Michael Audain, for his part, followed the Chan pledge with $100M. Audain has at least three other galleries named after him (one at UBC, one at SFU and one at Whistler). Naming the mall the Audain Centre for the Visual Arts would only create a Groundhog Day effect for residents and tourists alike, so we have Michael to thank for keeping his name off of it.
The current VAG site was demarcated for cultural use after the B.C. Provincial Courthouse moved across Robson Street in the early 1980s. Once the VAG leaves, a new cultural institution will take its place. It was always assumed by the people who pay attention to these things that the Vancouver Museum would takes its place, given its current cramped quarters at Vanier Park, but that remains to be seen.
What can be seen is a growing installation (now protected by fencing) memorializing the recently discovered unmarked graves at Canada's former residential schools. I expect this inverse-Alamo memorial will continue to grow and a case will be made for it to reside indoors and throughout the building. Either way, the future of this site could well be a contested one, animated by shaking fists and tiptoeing politicians.
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