The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art is now closed for our $1.5 million renovation to repurpose our current space, allowing the gallery to expand our exhibition offerings and increase its artistic and educational programming. The renovation is set to commence in December 2017 with our formal re-opening in time for the Gallery's landmark 10th Anniversary Gala in June 2018. The Gallery will remain closed during the renovation.
Managed by Vancouver-based Merrick Architecture, the original designers of the Bill Reid Gallery, the renovation will include a new 640-square-foot exhibition gallery and a 650-square-foot dedicated program space that will replace offices on the mezzanine level. The lobby will be redesigned to enhance the visitor experience and a covering for the Gallery's 250-square-foot terrace will be constructed to extend the visitor experience. A significant upgrade to the gallery's existing lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is also planned to improve light levels, temperature and humidity controls needed for the display of special works.
Planning for this makeover has been in the works since 2014, and was made possible by the support of the Canadian Heritage Cultural Spaces Fund and the City of Vancouver's Cultural Infrastructure Program. The project is also supported by the Province of British Columbia through its "Canada 150: Celebrating BC Communities and their Contributions to Canada" grant program and several generous private donors.