Presentation House Gallery announced today a lead gift of $4-million for its new building from Polygon Homes Ltd. and the Audain Foundation. Polygon Homes president Neil Chrystal made the gift at an event in North Vancouver today. With this donation, Presentation House Gallery is moving forward with plans to open in the new gallery on Vancouver's waterfront in 2017. The new facility will be named the Polygon Gallery, inspired by the lead gift.
"We are deeply honoured by this generous gift from Polygon Homes and the Audain Foundation, by far the largest gift ever given to our Gallery in its 30-year history," says Gallery Executive Director Reid Shier. "When we move into our new home in 2017, we will be thrilled to open under a name that reflects our many-faceted programmes and world-class exhibitions."
Along with $2.5-million in funding from the City of North Vancouver and in excess of one million dollars in private donations, the gifts of $2-million from Polygon Homes and $2-million from the Audain Foundation provide the new Gallery with more than $7.5-million of its total target of $15-million.
"This very important gift puts us more than half-way to our total fundraising goal for the new building, and sets a challenge for others committed to seeing the Polygon Gallery become a reality," says the new building's capital campaign chairman Stuart McLaughlin. "We are honoured by and grateful for the enormous generosity of Polygon Homes, the Audain Foundation, and Michael Audain."
"We are excited to be a partner in this project which will bring lasting benefits to the City of North Vancouver, the province and the country," says Neil Chrystal, President of Polygon Homes. "Presentation House Gallery has established itself as a significant presence on the national and international art scene, and we are happy to be a part of its story of growth and excellence."
Established in 1976, Presentation House Gallery has developed an international reputation for innovative exhibitions featuring Canadian and international artists including Stan Douglas, Rodney Graham, Fred Herzog, Ian Wallace, Ansel Adams, Diane Arbus, Andy Warhol and many others. Over three decades, Presentation House Gallery has presented more than 300 exhibitions of photographic and media art, and become one of Canada's most adventurous and highly respected public art galleries. With its new 19-thousand square foot facility, the Gallery plans to expand its presentations and programming.
Designed by renowned BC firm Patkau Architects, the Polygon Gallery will be Vancouver's first new public art gallery of the 21st century. The new building is designed to be operationally self-sustaining, and includes a gift shop and cafe, as well as exhibition and education space.
Full information about the new Polygon Gallery is available at: http://newhome.presentationhousegallery.org
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Contacts: For further information, interviews or high resolution images, please contact: Carolyn Jack cell: 604-970-3234 carolynjackconsulting@gmail.com