Associates of the Vancouver Art Gallery · Associates of the Vancouver Art Gallery ... a course of action would be determined after the summer to define implementation ... by Donna

Associates of the Vancouver Art Gallery

Steering Committee Activity Report

2014

Associates posing in front of Yue Minjun’s Amaze-Ing Laughter after the 2013-2014 Welcome Back Luncheon at the Sylvia Hotel restaurant

1 Associates Steering Committee 2014 Activity Report

Associates of the Vancouver Art Gallery

Activity Report 2014

Summary

Chair Report Standing Committees Art Education Program Fundraising Activity Program Appendix: Communications Report Appendix: Education Report Appendix: Special Events Report Appendix: Travel Report Note: This summary version of the report omits a record of administrative action concerning the still-pending formal dissolution of the Associates Society concurrent with, but not relevant to, the activities of the Associates as a Gallery member group.

Prepared by Annick Boisset, Chair, Associates Steering Committee December 2014 – updated March 2015


Associates Steering Committee Chair Report The year ending June 30, 2014 was the final year of the three-year transition period (November 2011 to June 2014) for the Associates as a new Gallery member group. The mission and terms of operations during the Transition Period were outlined in the April 3, 2012 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Transition Period Working Plan. Documents available on request.

As a reminder, the Associates were to:

“continue to organize a program of art education activities including audio-visual presentations, a study group, Art in the Morning and artist studio visits; and

“continue to raise funds for the Gallery through various activities, including travel programs and special events (themed events, gala, annual lunches etc.)”

During the reporting year, the Associates enjoyed steady total membership numbers. Many enjoyed participating in a range of educational, special events and travel programs designed and managed by the Associates, and greatly assisted by Membership manager Liz Ayre and her team in collaboration with other Gallery units. With the end of the transition period approaching, an Action Plan was prepared to “build on

the reality of the Associates of the Vancouver Art Gallery over the 3-Year Transition Period, governed by the MOU. After a brief review of the Associates Mission and Guiding Principles, the Action Plan identifies Objectives, Strategies and Action Steps with Implementation timeline.” Document available on request. After approval of the Action Plan (May 21, 2014), the Steering Committee decided that a course of action would be determined after the summer to define implementation strategies.

Steering Committee members Annick Boisset, chair (also chair of Special Events); Donna Leyland (also chair of Travel); Judy Lindsay (until Dec 2013, also chair of Education); Heidi Pullem, secretary; Denis Walz, treasurer and Evelyn Froese (since March 2014) Also ex officio member was Liz Ayre, Gallery Membership Manager since Jan 1, 2014, under Stephen Webster, Marketing & Communications Director. Steering Committee meetings

Monthly committee meetings, chaired by Annick, were held regularly on the third Wednesday of the month. Agenda and minutes are prepared and distributed before/after each meeting. Financial Results After consultation with Liz Ayre, Membership manager and Marie Dickens, replacing Beth McInnis, Director of Finance, it was confirmed that the Associates raised a total of $22,600 through the fundraising programs. Again this year, we requested that $10,000 of the fundraising proceeds be allocated to the VAG Family Weekend Program.


Highlights of Associates Activities follow in the pages below supplemented by

appendices found at the end of this report. STANDING COMMITTEES

1. Associates Membership Membership as at June 30, 2014 was at 193 (Jun 18), compared with about 195 at the end of June 2013 (July 7), with normal attrition among ‘grandfathered Associates’ (ie registered prior to November 2011), offset by the addition of “new” Associates. Total membership comprises 135 “grand-fathered Associates including 58 (new) Associates, who have joined since November 2011. Previous year’s numbers were 145 grand-fathered and 55 (new) Associates (does not add up to 195 likely because of end dates being slightly off), showing good retention among the grand-fathered, but a tapering of new Associates having joined since January 2014. In May, Membership manager Liz Ayre and Marketing & Communications director Stephen Webster generously offered grandfathered Associates the option “to retain their grandfathered status by renewing their Gallery Membership before June 30, 2014, and add an extra year at the continued grandfathered membership rates”.

Document available on request: Associates membership rates and ‘grandfathered’ status extension. 2. Communications See APPENDIX: Communications Report, by Judy Lindsay, chair until December and Helen Cunningham, new chair since January.

Communications responsibilities were shared between the Associates and the Membership Office as follows: - from the Membership office:

o email announcements of a general nature; event notices and Associates newsletters, as requested. Sent to the Associates membership.

o membership list updates; prompt new membership notifications and soon-to-lapse member reports to update the Associates email distribution list. All sent to the Associates office and on a need-to-know basis.

- from the Associates Office: event notices and reminders in conjunction with requests; correspondence with members; on-line registration to events. All sent by Helen and occasionally by Annick or (still) Judy.

My special thanks to Judy for her long-time dedication to penning concise communication pieces, and to Helen for the many hours spent at the computer in the Associates office sending out email announcements and updating the Associates email list. Many thanks also to Associate Rauli Rantanen for his generous professional contribution with great-graphics event notices. It has proven difficult to recruit an additional volunteer Associate to improve our communications materials and to enhance our efforts to integrate and retain new members. Work in progress!


Directory 204-2015. The seventh edition of the Associates Directory was prepared

over the summer and distributed to members at the traditional Welcome Back Luncheon and, soon after, mailed out to those who did not attend. A call for opt-outs, edits and paid adverts is sent out in advance. Rack card. a short-run rack card was prepared by Liz Ayre. It quickly ran out and needs frequent updating. The Associates webpage is somewhat useful but needs to be updated.

ART EDUCATION PROGRAM 3. Educational Events See APPENDIX: Education Report, by Judy Lindsay, chair Judy’s Education Report details regular programs, such as the Monday Study Group, Art in the Morning/Evening and Artists Studio visits. In addition, special educational events provide occasional lectures or visits to art places that reflect the Vancouver’s visual art scene. Art Education activities are free benefit activities to all Associates. Cost recovery fees may apply to off-site visits. Educational events are open to guests of members for a nominal fee on a one-time basis, applicable to a new Associates membership upon joining. There is a continued need to broaden the hours and range of activities to attract and better match the interests of new Associates – the younger or actively working, the close-to-retirement or, the senior seeking a deeper engagement with art. Of special note, Darlene Forrester was the recipient of the traditional Noreen Anderson Award presented to the Associates Volunteer of the Year (2014).

FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES Associates fundraising activities provide exclusive access for the Associates to special art-related experiences while supporting the Gallery’s fundraising effort. They belong in two broad categories, Special Events and Associates Art Tours.

4. Special Events Program See APPENDIX: Special Events Report, by Annick Boisset, chair The Special Events report details the range of activities, events and related issues for the reporting period. Special Events raised a total of $4,843, mainly the result of social events such as the traditional Welcome Back luncheon and Holiday Reception (generously sponsored by Marketing), a visit to the O’Brian private collection, one Fine Dining & Art at the


Cactus Club Hotel event and the Associates Soirée Copacabana held at the Gallery Rooftop Pavilion in collaboration with the Gallery and in conjunction with the Gallery Grand Hotel summer exhibition. There were fewer events this current year than in the past for reasons outlined in the report. “Lessons learned” will assist in planning for next year. 5. Travel Program

See APPENDIX: Travel Committee Report, by Donna Leyland, chair During the reporting period, the Travel Committee planned and executed two very successful trips. These were:

2-day art tour to Seattle, October 2-3, 2013 with a focus on the work of Dale Chihuly.

5-day art tour to Chicago to visit the Art Institute and other prominent museums as

well as an architectural tour, artist studios, contemporary art spaces and several

private collections.

In total, travel activities of the Associates raised $15,600 for the Gallery, including a donation component that is an integral part of the price of each trip. Unfavorable currency exchange rate ate into the contingency “buffer” threatening the planned donation tax receipts amount to participants. In my capacity as Chair of the Steering Committee of the Associates, it is my pleasure to conclude this report by expressing my deep gratitude to Liz Ayre, Membership Manager and her staff, as well as Stephen Webster, Marketing & Communications Director, for their interest in the Associates and invaluable assistance in navigating throughout the Gallery. Special thanks also to other departments at the Gallery for their indirect yet all too valuable assistance - Development director Scott Elliott and Annual Fundraising director Lyn Tyler for their continued interest in the fundraising efforts of the Associates. And my special thanks to Gallery Director Kathleen Bartels and Associate Director Paul Larocque for their continued encouragements and participation in our Associates events. In closing, my favorite duty is to thank my fellow Steering Committee members for their dedication and professional commitment: Donna Leyland – Travel

Judy Lindsay – Communications (until Dec) Helen Cunningham – Communications (since Jan) Judy Lindsay – Education Heidi Pullem – Secretary Denis Walz – at large Evelyn Froese – at large (since March) Liz Ayre – ex officio, Membership manager

Respectfully submitted to Liz Ayre, Membership Manager, and Stephen Webster, Director, Marketing & Communications Annick Boisset, Chair Associates of the Vancouver Art Gallery


APPENDIX: Communications Report for 2013-2014, by Judy Lindsay, chair (until Dec) and Helen Cunningham, chair (since Jan)

Prepared by Helen Cunningham in conjunction with committee chairs.

Type of communication

Sent to Date or frequency Subject

Newsletter All members August & January Looking forward: coming events Looking back: stories & pictures

Event promotions, reminders

All members 3-4 each month Near-term coming events

Hard copy event notices

Members without email

August, October, November, February, March, June

Near-term & some long-term coming events

Management of membership email list

As required: several times each month

With technical assistance from IT staff

Special graphics by Rauli Rantanen

All members September, January, February, April

Some special events & Art Tours


APPENDIX: Education Report for 201-2014, by Judy Lindsay, chair

Our educational programming consists of three regular series plus occasional special events. Members

Monday Study Group (Judy Lindsay, chair) The Monday morning study group enjoyed 15 sessions in the fiscal year 2013/14. They consisted of the

showing of art DVDs followed by discussion, a few including additional commentary about the artists.

An average of 20 members attended each session, with more members taking an active role. The study

group is organized and hosted by Judy Lindsay. The subjects (and by-commentary) were:

El Anatsui

Jan Vermeer

Art of War

Richard Avedon

Marc Chagall

Sculptures of the Louvre

Mark Rothko

Auguste Rodin

Kazimir Malevich (Diana Garred)

David Batchelor

Richard Tuttle

Agnes Martin

Maude Lewis (Shirley Fromson)

Keith Haring

Antony Gormley

Art of the 21st Century (Jill Brown)

Norval Morrisseau (Elizabeth McLuhan*)

*external expert

Art in the Morning, Art in the Evening (Darlene Forrester, chair) Usually on the second Tuesday and third Friday of the month we invited members to join a guided tour

of a current exhibition, organized by Darlene Forrester. Attendance on Tuesday evenings averaged seven

and on Friday mornings eleven. The tours are usually led by Darlene but occasionally by Annick Boisset.

The Tuesday evening tour has enjoyed growing attendance, a clear sign that members welcome this

convenience. Exhibitions toured include:

Persuasive Visions: 17th

Century Dutch

and Flemish Masterworks

In Dialogue with Carr: Gareth Moore

Mantadas

Charles Edenshaw

Kimsooja

Emily Carr

Lawren Harris

Ed Burtynsky

Mfanwy McLeod

Douglas Coupland

Artists’ Studio Tours (Ellen Doise, chair)

A committee led by Ellen Doise organized many visits to artists’ studios, allowing members the

opportunity to meet and talk to artists creating works in a wide variety of styles. As well, with the

assistance of member Grace Robin we also arranged a tour of the art collection at Vancouver General

Hospital. An average of 14 people attended. The artists visited were:

Pierre Coupey

Janette Jarville

Bettina Matzkuhn

Paul Morstadt

Mike Abraham

Special Educational Events (Judy Lindsay, chair)

In November members were invited underground at the gallery to see the main storage space for the

collection, the conservation area and other areas of interest to Associates of the VAG. Our informative

and entertaining guide was Tom Meighan, director of operations. Eighteen members attended.


APPENDIX: Special Events committee report (Summary) for 2012-2013, by Annick Boisset, chair Many thanks to all Special Events Committee members: Dianne Bentz, Nancy Duncan, Evelyn Froese, Marianne Szabo, Eva Grunfeld,June Matheson, Joanne Thorpe, Annick Boisset (chair), with support from Liz Ayre & the Membership team The table below summarizes the main activities and results of the current year:

Event Name Date Venue Organizer (s) Ticket

Price

No. of

participants

Welcome Back

Luncheon

Thur, Sep 12 Sylvia Hotel

Restaurant

Nancy, Annick $45 60

Lynn Kagan

collection

Sun, Nov 24 Lynn’s home Evelyn Annick $50 23

Holiday Reception Tues, Dec 3 VAG Court room

301

Marianne, Eva,

staff

free +

$25/guests

63 + 4 guests

+ 6 staff

Shannon Belkin

collection

Sun, Apr 13 Shannon’s home June, Marianne

Annick Joanne

$50 60

Fine Dining & Art

at Cactus Club

Tues, Feb 25 2 locations:

- Burrard Ave

- Jack Poole Plaza

Dianne $40/$50 25

AVAG Generation

(Coupland) Soirée

Wed, May

29/13

VAG 4 East &

Rooftop

June, Marianne

Eva, Annick,

VAG staff

$50 56 + 5 guests

Comments:

It has been a good year for special events organized by an enthusiastic committee.

Evening events – more after-hours events (evening or weekend) are planned and do attract working members and more men

Holding events at the Gallery add visibility among the Gallery community, do appeal to new members and strengthen a sense of belonging to the Gallery. However, they involve a lot of planning

Welcome Back Lunch at the Sylvia Hotel has been very popular; the 5-to-7 pm Holiday Reception held at the Gallery was very well received as a “benefit” event with heightened cachet, where Associates mingled with staff

Collectors events are always a favorite and attract new members among friends of current members. Note: private collections are also a major component of our Travel program.


APPENDIX: Travel Committee report for 2013-14, by Donna Leyland, chair

This trip was prepared entirely by the Associates.

It was sold out with 30 participants.

Total donation to the Gallery from) trip was $4,995.

CHIHULY ART TOUR!

Prepare to be blown away!

“We invite you to join us as we embark on a two-day Chihuly fantasy adventure in

Seattle! Discover the magnificent, recently-opened, 1.5 acre Chihuly Garden & Glass

extravaganza! Explore the amazing Chihuly Boathouse and ‘hot shop’ located on the

shores of Lake Union! Visit Chihuly’s private Ballard glass studio where you’ll

witness his international commissioned works taking shape.

Two days, three separate Chihuly experiences and more!

WHEN: October 2nd & October 3rd

COST: $375 per member; $425 for guests

“Includes travel by deluxe coach, accommodation at a boutique downtown Seattle hotel,

entrance fees, lunch and a wine reception on Day 1.

Price based on two sharing (single hotel supplement $76) includes a $75 donation to the

Gallery for which a tax receipt will be issued.

“DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: July 29, 2013

Register Early – last two tours sold out quickly!

CONTACT: Donna Leyland, [email protected], 604-737-8889


This trip was prepared in collaboration with Art Encounters inc, a non-profit art tour organizer company based in Chicago.

The trip attracted 21 participants.

Total donation to the Gallery from this trip was around $6,000, in spite of unfavorable currency exchange rate.