Lacey Prize Announcement

Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Announcement from the Gallery Gachet Collective and Staff

Today the National Gallery of Canada and the Naomi and John Lacey Family announce the recipients of the inaugural Lacey Prize in recognition of artist-run centres in Canada. With joy we share the news that Gallery Gachet accepts the Lacey Prize as runner-up, along with Untitled Art Society of Mohkinstsis/Calgary. We offer our congratulations to the winner, Hamilton Artists Inc.

Gallery Gachet is honoured to be among the recipients of the inaugural Lacey Prize. As a meaningful contribution to the art communities of Gallery Gachet, the Lacey Prize will allow us to offer more culturally-relevant and accessible professional opportunities for artists and art workers whose practices build resilience within and beyond the gallery’s neighbourhood, the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on the unceded and occupied territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm, Skwxwú7mesh, and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh Nations.

Gallery Gachet extends sincere gratitude to the Lacey Family and the National Gallery of Canada Foundation for their considered generosity. We also thank Eric Rhys Miller, Executive Director of the Community Arts Council of Vancouver, for nominating Gallery Gachet. We accept the Lacey Prize with dedication to the land, communities, and artists who support Gallery Gachet – past, present, and future. Gratitude is also due to Cecily Nicholson, Anthony Meza-Wilson, and Kristin Lantz, for their years of service through times of crisis and stability, and to WePress Community Arts Space, for their gracious community partnership and indispensable contributions to our shared and distinct communities.

Untitled Art Society was nominated by Jayne Wilkinson, Editor-in-Chief, Canadian Art. Hamilton Artists Inc. was nominated by Tobi Bruce of the Art Gallery of Hamilton.

About the Lacey Prize
“Established in 2019, the Lacey Prize responds to an urgent need to recognize and celebrate the activities and impact of small arts organizations and artist-run spaces in Canada — in particular their contributions to emerging and experimental practices, and the critical role they play to foster artists and art within their local communities. Artist-run centres are often the first places to offer emerging artists an opportunity and space in which to exhibit their work. The Lacey Prize reflects the National Gallery of Canada’s and Dr. Lacey’s strong belief that artist-run centres are the lifeblood of Canada’s art ecosystem.” – National Gallery of Canada

About Gallery Gachet
Gallery Gachet is an artist-run centre located in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on the unceded and occupied territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm, Skwxwú7mesh, and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh Nations. Gallery Gachet supports artists and offers art programs that address mental health and socio-political marginalization, promoting art as a means of survival, healing, and human rights.

Further Info

ARCA
The Artist-Run Centres and Collectives Conference (ARCA) is a Canadian organization that represents over 180 artist-run centres and collectives in cities and towns across the country. www.arca.art

PAARC
The Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres (PAARC) was established in 1988 as an association representing artist run centres in British Columbia. Member organizations are artist initiated and artist controlled. The primary mandate of the society is to work towards the benefit of the practicing artist, within the context of artists’ self-determination. http://paarc.ca/

WePress
WePress Community Arts Space Society advances education by providing workshops on historic and contemporary methods of print- and art-making for the public, with a particular focus on individuals from marginalized communities in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES). https://wepress.ca/

The Lacey Prize: Recognizing Artist-Run Centres in Canada by Shannon Moore  July 19, 2019 https://www.gallery.ca/magazine/in-the-spotlight/the-lacey-prize-recognizing-artist-run-centres-
in-canada

Dr. Lacey Speaks about the Lacey Prize . https://youtu.be/lTzUlTGGGhg