The Vancouver Art Gallery has just announced that it has received a $1-million gift from artist Gordon Smith, and a matching donation of another $1-million from Stephen and Gail Jarislowsky and The Jarislowsky Foundation. 

“The extraordinary generosity of Gordon and Marion Smith and Stephen and Gail Jarislowsky through their foundations is incredibly moving,” said VAG CEO and director Anthony Kiendl in a news release. “The funds will not only help our amazing team at the Gallery carry out the important work of providing enriching art experiences, but they will also serve as an inspiration for others.”

“It is important to keep the name of Gordon alive," said Stephen Jarislowsky, "and it is an honor for Gail and myself to participate in recognizing his artistic genius as well as the nobility of the man himself. Gordon’s work was ever vibrant and his new inventions, time after time, culminated finally in the last and greatest chef d’œuvre of his 100-year long life.

"Gordon ever assured us that the best was yet to come," Jarislowsky added. "He kept his word. He was a great artist of British Columbia and one of our great joys in life was our friendship over so many years.”

With this new endowment fund, the VAG also announced the creation of a new curatorial position, Curator of Canadian Art, and plans to post the position immediately.