Bill Reid Foundation

PERPETUATING THE LEGACIES THROUGH OTHER PROJECTS

In addition to securing the Collection and creating a permanent home for it, the Foundation is involved in supporting other projects that will preserve and perpetuate Bill Reid’s legacies.

The Bill Reid Invitational Concerts were held at the Haida House at the UBC Museum of Anthropology for several years while Bill Reid was alive. They raised funds to restore the House, built by Bill Reid and Douglas Crammer in 1958, as well as to endow the Bill Reid Award at the University of Northern British Columbia. To mark the 10th anniversary, the Foundation presented the magnificent The Spirit Concert at the Chan Centre in Vancouver on May 18, 2002.

View clips of the broadcast at the CBC Archives.

View the concert poster.

Auctions. The first auction of works all by Aboriginal artists in Canada was jointly sponsored by the Bill Reid Foundation and the Emily Carr Institute of Art + Design in October 2004 in Vancouver. First Impressions included silent and live auctions and a gala dinner. It was a benefit for both institutions and, although some artists donated works, most were paid a percentage of the bid amount. (more at the Emily Carr website)

The next year (October 2005), the Foundation and Simon Fraser University teamed up for the second all-Aboriginal auction, Objects of Bright Pride. The proceeds from the benefit event were split between the two institutions, which helps the university establish the Bill Reid Centre for Northwest Coast Art Studies, headed by Dr. George MacDonald in his joint appointment to the Foundation and the University.

The Bill Reid Teaching Centre will be a key element in the Haida Heritage Centre at Qay'llnagaay, Skidegate, Haida Gwaii. Bill Reid’s dream of establishing a teaching studio in his mother’s village is being realized. The Centre will provide the highest quality teaching of Haida art and culture and mentoring of First Nations artists. The Foundation is pleased to join the many supporters, including Parks Canada, University of Northern British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, and Haida Heritage Centre, in endorsing and supporting this project.

The Bill Reid Award was established by Bill Reid in 1994 at University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George to support the verbal, visual and performing arts of the First Nations of the Northwest Coast. The Foundation plans to be able to make more substantial annual financial contributions to this fund.