CAG Plus

User Bio

History

Established in 1971 through federal employment programs for artists, the Contemporary Art Gallery (CAG) was incorporated as a non-profit charitable society in 1976. From 1971 to 1978, artists were hired for six month periods to produce art for exhibition which was then accessioned into the City of Vancouver Art Collection. In 1984 the CAG became an artist-run centre, widely recognized for providing initial solo exhibitions for many of Vancouver’s now well-known artists. In 1996 the CAG became an independent public art gallery. It is now Vancouver’s only independent public art gallery dedicated exclusively to contemporary visual art.

Vision

The Contemporary Art Gallery is a non-profit public art gallery dedicated to the research, exhibition, education and documentation of contemporary visual art as it is practiced locally through to internationally. It aspires to generate significant audiences for its innovative and diverse programmes through free access and a profile that is international in scope.

Mandate

The Contemporary Art Gallery promotes knowledge and understanding of contemporary visual art through:

• initiation and promotion of exhibitions, publications, learning and outreach programs presenting work made by both Canadian and international artists
• development of dynamic and committed relationships between art, artists and audiences that support and contribute to a diverse community
• playing a key role in the cultural life of Vancouver and British Columbia
• offering access to everyone
• informative and engaging resources on visual arts
• the City of Vancouver Art Collection of 3,000 works of art which are circulated in public spaces throughout civic buildings and loaned for exhibition to museums and galleries