Vancouver Art Gallery

1906

In 1906 Vancouver population was growing and the need for a new courthouse was coming about. The new courthouse was to replace the old courthouse which was located at victory square on the corner of Hamilton and West Pender. The new court house was to be built at West Georgia and Howe Street.  The lots were acquired by the provincial government from the CPR for a total of 46,000 dollars. Two international architects Francis Mawson Rattenbury and Thomas Hooper designed and built the Court House.  Rattenbury’s part was the main portion of the courthouse which opened in 1911 and Hooper who built what is known as the Annex wing opened later in 1914. Its 18 courtrooms and neoclassical design marked the symbol of Vancouver Justice until 1981 when construction began to convert the building into what is the present day Vancouver Art Gallery.

Present

 Costing almost 2 million dollars to renovate in 1983 the doors opened to the Art Gallery. The renovations were facilitated by another famous architect by the name of Arthur Erickson. The exterior of the Art Gallery hasn’t changed much it was the inside that had to be converted to accommodate the new structure of the art gallery. Today the Art Gallery has become symbolic of challenging the authorities. Hosting protests like the 99% percent rally and the annual 4:20 protest which entails the legalization of Marijuana. Many other causes are brought to light on the steps of this symbolic building. Once used to enforce justice it has now become a place that brings awareness to various causes and of course its most literal function is the hosting of international art exhibits. You can buy tickets to the Art Galleries Exhibit here.

Work Cited

  • Brissenden, C. (2006). Vancouver: A Pictorial Celebration Including Vancouver Island, Victoria, and Whistler. New York: Sterling Publishing Company.
  • Brissenden, C., Loyie, L., & MacKinnon, D. J. (2011). 1906. Retrieved December 1, 2011, from The History of Metropolitan Vancouver : http://www.vancouverhistory.ca/chronology5.htm