Sixth Festival of the Contemporary Arts
installation at the UBC Fine Arts Gallery, 1967
Zbigniew Blazeje – An Audio – Kinetic Environment / Constructions by Montreal Artists / Gouaches By Michael Morris / Paintings by David Samila
Belkin Satellite, 555 Hamilton Street, Vancouver

history

The UBC Fine Arts Gallery was founded in 1948 and located in the basement of Main Library on the University campus. For much of its early history, the Fine Arts Gallery was the only venue in the Vancouver region to focus exclusively on contemporary art. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Gallery achieved a national profile with exhibitions that explored what is now known as cultural studies, and by presenting innovative work by artists who would establish Vancouver as an international centre. The Gallery was used exclusively as exhibition space until 1994, when it began to house and administrate the University Art Collection.

On June 14, 1995, the Fine Arts Gallery was rededicated the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery and opened its new premises at 1825 Main Mall. The building, designed by Peter Cardew Architects, was made possible by the generous support of Dr. Helen E. Belkin and the Government of British Columbia through the World of Opportunity Campaign and the University of British Columbia.

Belkin Satellite

From 2001 to 2008 the Belkin Gallery ran an auxiliary space in downtown Vancouver which presented a mix of exhibitions by local artists, new projects by mid-career artists, experimental projects by UBC curatorial studies students, and served as an additional venue for the Belkin permanent collection. The Satellite’s role as an outreach site provided a strong UBC Belkin presence in the downtown core and expanded our programs to a larger more diverse audience than the campus can offer. The Belkin continues to participate in the downtown community through satellite projects and collaborations with other galleries and organizations.

The Satellite space, located at 555 Hamilton Street, originated as the Bau-Xi Gallery in 1965, and is Vancouver’s most enduring single gallery space. In August 2008, the Or Gallery took over the site.

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For further information please contact: Naomi Sawada at naomi.sawada@ubc.ca,
tel: (604) 822-3640, or fax: (604) 822-6689