Funding for the bold new design, announced nearly a decade ago, was never entirely secured, and last week the gallery announced it had scuttled its plans
When news broke last week that the Vancouver Art Gallery had scuttled its decade-long dream of an iconic new building designed by a star Swiss architecture firm, a term from the world of technology, not art, came to mind.: A piece of software or other computer product that has been advertised but is not available to buy yet, either because it is only an idea or because it is still being written or designed.
In 2017, Ann Webb, the gallery’s associate director, director of engagement and strategic initiatives, told Lederman: “This museum will be built.” Vancouver’s prominent art collector, art patron and housing developer Michael Audain pledged $100-million. The Chan family had pledged $40-million. A delay was announced then. By this month, the delay had become a halt. The gallery has severed its relationship with the Swiss firm and is now looking for a less costly option for the city.
“I was disappointed in the private fundraising. Maybe I made a mistake,” Audain mused this week. “Maybe I should have made it a matching pledge. Maybe they thought the governments were going to do everything.”Audain said his $100-million was given specifically to the current building project, but he said he would wait to see what happens with the process to choose a new design before deciding whether to continue to fund the project.
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