The leaders of some of the country's largest municipal arts councils, including three in Western Canada — the Winnipeg Arts Council, Calgary Arts Development and the Edmonton Arts Council — have signed a letter calling on the federal government to institute a basic income guarantee for artists. The letter says the pandemic has had a devastating economic impact on Canada's arts sector, including a 62 per cent drop in GDP over the last year. It emphasizes how the artists have responded to the needs of Canadians throughout the crisis and says federal assistance programs like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and the Canada Recovery Benefit are precedents for a universal basic income program.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights recently announced two new members of their management team. Riva Harrison begins her role immediately as vice-president, external relations and community engagement, while Haran Vijayanathan will start April 19 as the director of equity and strategic initiatives. “Riva and Haran have the experience and backgrounds to drive the change we all want for this museum,” said Isha Khan, CEO of the museum. The museum has been responding to complaints of discrimination since last spring. Harrison, who has 20 years of senior leadership experience, recently led the creation of the first Indigenous marketing and communications initiative at Red River College in Winnipeg. Vijayanathan brings 15 years of experience working with groups that support marginalized communities, including the Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention in Toronto.
Vancouver's Marion Scott Gallery recently announced the death of gallerist Edward Kardosh. He had been having heart failure for several months and died Jan. 10 at age 86. For more than two decades, Kardosh worked to support the Marion Scott Gallery, now located on Granville Street, run by Judy Kardosh, Scott's daughter. In his honour, the gallery, now run by son Robert, is donating three drawings by Inuit artist Tony Anguhalluq to two different institutions in Western Canada.
The Vancouver Biennale has launched a YouTube channel to feature films, documentaries and interviews. First up is Parley, an interview series by French artist and filmmaker Marc Johnson, who interviewed more than 30 Vancouver artists, including Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun and Ian Wallace. Johnson produced the interviews during a residency with the biennale, a non-profit charitable organization that exhibits sculpture, new media, film, music and performance art in public spaces. To watch, go here.
Mitra Fakhrashrafi and Vince Rozario have been awarded the 2021 Middlebrook Prize for Young Canadian Curators. Created in 2012, the annual prize is awarded to a Canadian curator or curatorial team under 30. The winning exhibition proposal, Collective Offerings, will be presented at the Art Gallery of Guelph in Ontario from Sept. 16 to Dec. 12.
