A total of 55 artworks, including 11 by B.C. artists, have been selected by the Canada Council Art Bank for acquisition. In a news release, the Canada Council said it was acquiring the works, which come from Canadian artists of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and mixed racial heritage, to enhance its collection of contemporary art and respond to the country’s increasing cultural diversity.

The Art Bank acquisitions include include a painting, "Maroon Mandala II" (shown above), by Victoria resident Charles Campbell; a drawing, "When we haven’t got snow anymore", by Vancouver’s Michelle Fung; a mixed media piece, "Peace Rice", by Vancouver artist Tomoyo Ihaya; a photograph, "Ginseng Root Study No. 18  (ed. 1/3)",  by Vancouver’s Evan Foon Lee; a photograph, "one hundred thirty-three thousand finve hundred twenty-eight words and a super-8 grab", by Vancouver’s Ashok Mathur; a painting, "Converse Speak", by Richmond-based Lorenzo Repito; a print, "Tabi and  'Socks' (Dyptich)", by Clearwater resident Jana Sasaki; a painting, "Nobody Here but Us", by Vancouver’s Ken Singer; a photograph, "Untiltled (Sunset)", by Victoria’s Ho Tam; a sculpture, "Sea Anemone", by Burnaby’s Yvonne Wakabayashi; and a print, "Her Thought Bubble", by Vancouver’s Janice Wong.

The total value of the 55 artworks acquired is just over $230,000, according to a news release.