Unsuitable as an Institution: The Tenacity of Access Gallery 1992-2014

An important book project for the organization, Unsuitable as an Institution: The Tenacity of Access Gallery 1992 – 2014 chronicles Access’ twenty-three year history through the voices of twenty-nine instrumental figures—exhibiting artists, curators, directors, board members and supporters—from the organization’s past and present. The collection of critical essays, stories, images and ephemera gathered in Unsuitable as an Institution testifies to the rigour and resilience of Access’ programming, its willingness to experiment with new ideas, to take risks and provoke dialogue. Join all of us in attendance at this publication launch—including many of the book’s contributors who were supported by the artist-run centre at early moments in their careers—to celebrate the importance of Access Gallery’s ongoing contribution to the vitality of Vancouver’s cultural landscape.

With contributions by Jesse Birch, Jeffrey Boone, Fiona Bowie, Karin Bubaš, Clint Burnham, Shaun Dacey, Anyse Ducharme, Lisa Fedorak, Emma Metcalfe Hurst, Areum Kim, Christian Kliegel, Vanessa Kwan, Laura Lamb, Evan Lee, Alison MacTaggart, Scott McBride, Phillip McCrum, Elizabeth Milton, Cindy Mochizuki, Nadine Nickull, Liz Park, Aaron Peck, Ed Pien, Marina Roy, Rachelle Sawatsky, Dan Starling, Teresa Sudeyko, Kathy Tycholis and Kelly Wood.

This project has been generously funded by The Leon and Thea Koerner Foundation, The Michael Audain Foundation for the Visual Arts and The Hamber Foundation.