> School for the Contemporary Arts receives $2 million donation
School for the Contemporary Arts receives $2 million donation
Contact:
Michael Audain, 604.877.1131, bbinns@polyhomes.com
Erica Branda, SFU Advancement, 778.782.3353/778.231.1274, ebranda@sfu.ca
Michael Audain, 604.877.1131, bbinns@polyhomes.com
Erica Branda, SFU Advancement, 778.782.3353/778.231.1274, ebranda@sfu.ca
January 17, 2008
Michael Audain, well-known arts philanthropist and chair of Polygon Homes Ltd., is donating $2 million, via the Audain Foundation, to the SFU School for the Contemporary Arts’ new state-of-art education and performance centre. The facility will be a cornerstone in the Woodward’s redevelopment project.
To recognize his generous contribution, SFU will name the building’s main exhibition space the Audain Visual Arts Teaching Gallery and establish the Audain Visiting Chair in Visual Arts. The new Chair position will bring international stars to Vancouver to engage with students, faculty and the community.
Scheduled to open in 2009, SFU’s School for the Contemporary Arts will soon become one of Vancouver’s most exciting destinations for arts and culture. It will be a unique and world-class facility that will combine public exhibition and performance with intensive and interdisciplinary teaching.
“If we want to continue to attract the best and the brightest young minds to Vancouver, we must have a creative culture with opportunities to learn about the latest in visual arts, film, dance, theatre, and music,” says Audain.
“SFU’s School for the Contemporary Arts will not only provide a much-needed, high-end performance centre for the city, it will also provide a full program of cultural activity. I look forward to attending gallery shows and performances from SFU students, faculty members and their international and community guests.”
Says SFU President Michael Stevenson: “Michael Audain has been a great friend to SFU for years. He was the first developer to understand our vision for UniverCity, SFU’s Burnaby Mountain residential community, and took a big risk in making an early investment.
“He clearly has a long-term vision for turning the Lower Mainland into a dynamic, livable community, and, understanding the importance of the arts in realizing this vision, he has been Vancouver’s outstanding philanthropic supporter of our leading arts and cultural institutions.”
The provincial government recently announced its commitment of close to $50 million toward the School. A $30 million fundraising campaign is underway to ensure the project is completed successfully. Close to $17 million has been raised to date, including a $3 million gift from campaign chair and SFU chancellor emeritus Dr. Milton Wong.
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To recognize his generous contribution, SFU will name the building’s main exhibition space the Audain Visual Arts Teaching Gallery and establish the Audain Visiting Chair in Visual Arts. The new Chair position will bring international stars to Vancouver to engage with students, faculty and the community.
Scheduled to open in 2009, SFU’s School for the Contemporary Arts will soon become one of Vancouver’s most exciting destinations for arts and culture. It will be a unique and world-class facility that will combine public exhibition and performance with intensive and interdisciplinary teaching.
“If we want to continue to attract the best and the brightest young minds to Vancouver, we must have a creative culture with opportunities to learn about the latest in visual arts, film, dance, theatre, and music,” says Audain.
“SFU’s School for the Contemporary Arts will not only provide a much-needed, high-end performance centre for the city, it will also provide a full program of cultural activity. I look forward to attending gallery shows and performances from SFU students, faculty members and their international and community guests.”
Says SFU President Michael Stevenson: “Michael Audain has been a great friend to SFU for years. He was the first developer to understand our vision for UniverCity, SFU’s Burnaby Mountain residential community, and took a big risk in making an early investment.
“He clearly has a long-term vision for turning the Lower Mainland into a dynamic, livable community, and, understanding the importance of the arts in realizing this vision, he has been Vancouver’s outstanding philanthropic supporter of our leading arts and cultural institutions.”
The provincial government recently announced its commitment of close to $50 million toward the School. A $30 million fundraising campaign is underway to ensure the project is completed successfully. Close to $17 million has been raised to date, including a $3 million gift from campaign chair and SFU chancellor emeritus Dr. Milton Wong.
-30-