Burrard Arts Foundation is located just off Broadway and Main Street in Mount Pleasant, where many artists hold their studios and where they hold many arts focused events. I hadn’t really been around the Mount Pleasant area beforehand, but my first impression of the area was nothing but great. It’s also where Mural Festival took place and many of the buildings in the area had huge murals on their walls which gave off a really artsy vibe to the area. Three minutes away from Main Street where I got off, I walked into BAF, a small neighbourhood gallery. This gallery is operated by four amazing women and for the most part Chantal is the one I will be working with a lot. My first impression of the gallery was GREAT, and big part of that is because of the gallery dog Sully! After quickly introducing myself to Chantal, we talked over our brief plans of our expectations of the partnership and here is what I’ve got:

My job for the next nine weeks is to put on a workshop, or two if we get the chance, at the gallery with a local artist from the area. BAF focuses “to promote the development of, and excellence in, the visual arts in Canada – accomplished through innovative art projects and programs. BAF seeks to advance the understanding and appreciation of the Arts in Vancouver by showcasing local and global artistic talent and dialogue from the creative minds of today and tomorrow in dynamic ways, and within the public’s grasp” (BAF). My job is basically to help out with Education Programming of the gallery. Chantal has told me that they have never really had a set program for Public Education and basically I could organize anything for it. We discussed about putting on a workshop with one of the local artists, and we would try to put on another one if we do get the chance and time. There aren’t any set deadline or dates for the workshops especially because it would depend on the artist that we are going to be inviting for the workshop. My aim is to reach out to artists by next week and to have a general idea of what the workshops will entail. Chantal and I have divided the 50 hours into 10 week timeline which equals out to 5 hours/week, but we have decided that I would go into the gallery Tuesday 10-2 every week and the extra hour per week will go into either off-site research and promo closer to the workshop.

Overall, I am a little bit nervous, but mostly very excited to be working with Chantal at the BAF. Chantal has also mentioned that she would introduce me to the overall gallery operation and how things work in the gallery system and in the Vancouver art community!