We are a not-for-profit with over 160 members. We volunteer to promote and fund contemporary art in Canada, and value education and collaboration.
Courtesy of Gardiner Museum
What do we do
PIA actively collaborates with Canadian curators, educators, art organizations and museums. Having raised over $4.7 million and supported over 80 different projects, PIA focuses on funding projects featuring contemporary artists with challenging works. Annual member donations, fundraising events and public donations make PIA’s work possible. See all partners and projects in PIA’s Project Database.
Our Story
Partners in Art was founded in 2002 by 20 women who wanted to learn more about contemporary art and bring an entrepreneurial, collaborative approach to fundraising for art institutions.
Prior to 2002 many of PIA’s founding members were part of the AGO’s Junior Committee, a group who volunteered primarily as docents or in the AGO gift shop. Some founding members volunteered by throwing a fundraiser to help AGO curators purchase art and then went on to volunteer in the AGO’s art rental section. These experiences united them and brought the realization that they shared an entrepreneurial spirit. It was time to initiate something on their own.
After consulting with leaders in Canada’s visual arts scene, their vision took shape. Their main goals were to support museums in realizing dream projects, and to learn more about contemporary art. Their approach was to raise money, assess which collaborative projects to invest in, and make sure there were education opportunities for members and the general public. Challenging ideas were welcome and they committed to making funding decisions quickly. Partners in Art was born.