Vancouver Community College RFP for Aboriginal Art

With support from the Province of BC and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development Vancouver Community College (VCC) Aboriginal higher learners are supported through the development of Aboriginal Gathering Spaces "to assist public post-secondary institutions develop and enhance infrastructure that reflects the cultural characteristics of their Aboriginal students, community, and traditions".  Vancouver Community College has a total budget of $175,000 remaining from the VCC Aboriginal Gathering Space funding designated for the acquisition of Aboriginal works for display in public spaces within the VCC Broadway Campus. This funding creates a unique and significant opportunity to acquire multiple works of art for VCC to honour the First Nations on whose traditional territories the College operates; to recognize the contributions of First Nation artists and Aboriginal artisans to British Columbia's shared culture and cultural heritage; and reflect culture to Aboriginal learners that creates a welcoming environment and improves access to education at VCC.

       All art will:

*       Be undertaken only by persons of Aboriginal ancestry;
*       Reflect local 3 First Nations culture first, followed regional, and national Aboriginal culture and diversity; and
*       Respect the local significance of traditional waterways with this theme.

       Art will be sited in appropriate locations throughout the Broadway campus with the objective of providing quality art to the greatest number of VCC students. The objective is to develop a worthwhile, enduring, and varied collection of artworks in VCC buildings, public spaces, and appropriate other spaces that enhances, enlivens, and enriches the lives of all students at VCC while reflecting the culture and values of the Aboriginal community.

       For full details visit BC Bid at: http://www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca/open.dll/welcome

       More Information Contact:

       Walter H. Pritchette III
       Associate Director of Purchasing & Services
       Broadway Campus
       1155 East Broadway, Vancouver BC V5T 4V5
       Ph: 604-871-7104
       wpritchette@vcc.ca
       www.vcc.ca/aboriginal

Thank you for attending Arts Summit 2010

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Arts Summit last week. We believe that important ideas and some practical action plans were discussed and hatched. It was great to see everyone who turned out; there were so many arts leaders in the house. Special thanks to Arlene Goldbard for her keynote and workshop. We look forward to sharing the text with our members as soon as we can. It was great to see Spencer Chandra Herbert attend this event and we regret not being able to convene a provincial panel, but Minister Krueger was not available. We know that Spencer Chandra Herbert is a strong advocate for our sector and we hope to work with him and any other elected officials who want to engage in dialogue.