It is with mixed feelings that I am announcing that I will be stepping down from my position as Executive Director of the YVR Art Foundation on September 30, 2022.
It has truly been an honour to serve in this role, and it is hard to believe that it has already been 10 years since I joined the Foundation as its first Executive Director.
During the past decade I have seen the Foundation grow significantly in its initiatives to support BC and Yukon Indigenous artists – from delivering just one awards program in 2012, to now offering four programs and additional exhibition and research opportunities for artists at all stages in their practice. These include aspiring artist awards, emerging and mid-career scholarships, and travel grants for artists to visit collections of Indigenous art at our museum partners around the world (including in Europe, US and the UK).
The Foundation’s accomplishments would not have been possible without our amazing Board of Directors, funders, partners and the incredible support we have received from YVR staff and leadership.
I am deeply grateful for the people I’ve met through the Foundation, and have been inspired by the many artists, youth, mentors, communities, museum partners and cultural organizations I’ve had the opportunity to work with. And while it is definitely hard to leave this role, I remain passionate about the Foundation’s important work, and hope to stay closely connected to the sector in my next chapter.
Thank you to the YVRAF community, and I look forward to staying in touch and watching the Foundation’s continued success in the years ahead.
– Susan Jackson
