The Grand Canal in Venice. Photo: Leah Sandals.
Today, the Donald R. Sobey Family Foundation announced a $2 million donation to the National Gallery of Canada Foundation in support of artists representing Canada at the Venice Biennale.
This lead gift establishes the Canadian Artists in Venice Endowment, which aims to attract other philanthropic partners.
“We loved the idea of partnering with other philanthropists from across the country to establish sustainable support for Canada in Venice,” explained Donald Sobey in a press release today.
“Our sincere hope is that this endowment will enhance the National Gallery’s operational capacity of the Canada Pavilion and, in so doing, will have a transformative impact on the place of Canadian artists in the international art community.”
To put the gift’s size into context, Shary Boyle’s installation at the Venice Biennale in 2013 cost $1.2 million, most of which was collected from private donations.
At the 56th Venice Biennale this year, Quebec City artists Jasmin Bilodeau, Sébastien Giguère and Nicolas Laverdière—who form the collective BGL—will represent Canada. Their exhibition at the Canada Pavilion will take shape under the guidance of independent curator Marie Fraser (formerly of the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal). BGL are planning several ambitiously sized installations at the Canada Pavilion under the exhibition title “Canadassimo.”
The National Gallery of Canada Foundation will name a major space in the gallery after the Donald R. Sobey family in acknowledgement of the gift.
