Mission and Values

Our Mission

Partners in Art is a Canadian charitable organization that funds and champions contemporary visual art through philanthropy, volunteerism and education.

Our Vision

The following vision statement articulates the aspirations of Partners in Art. The Statement describes its ideal future – what it wants, and the impact it will have on the arts community.

Advance contemporary visual art through philanthropic leadership.

Our Values

These values statements list the principles that guide and direct PIA and its organizational culture.

Innovation

Uphold our distinctive model of volunteerism and philanthropy for the arts, which is unique in Canada.

Inclusivity

Create a welcoming and equitable environment for all members and project partners, as well as support and value diverse perspectives.

Transparency

Maintain transparency for our members and external stakeholders with regards to funding, operations and governance.

Respect

Cultivate an environment of respect within our membership and with our partners.

Collaboration

Support an open dialogue and exchange of ideas with regards to project selection, and embrace differing perspectives and experiences.

Independence

Remain at arms length from any one funder or institution to support a wide breadth of innovative projects.

Disclaimer

PIA’s mission to “champion contemporary art, artists and arts organizations to provide thoughtful perspectives on our world” may at times associate PIA with controversial points of view, opinions and activism of the diverse individuals and groups that PIA presents and supports. The views expressed by these individuals and organizations are their own and do not necessarily reflect policies or points of view of PIA or of members. We will continue to strive to meet our core principles of tolerance, the health of dissent, freedom of association, and freedom of expression.

“Commissioned by PIA, LandMarks2017/Repères2017 was a pivotal moment in my practice. Art is one way to critically contemplate the conditions of society, and this series of projects by 12 artists was impressive and necessary to mark Canada’s sesquicentennial. The photographs from my project, entitled Long View, have been reworked for the façade of the National Gallery of Canada, currently on view until Spring 2026.”

Jin-me Yoon
Visual Artist

“We are immensely grateful for Partner’s in Art’s support for the creation of an original work by Anila Agha Quayyum for the Aga Khan Museum’s Light: Visionary Perspectives exhibition. Through the generosity of PIA, Quayyum created A Thousand Silent Moments (Rain Forest) – a unique, immersive installation inspired by works from our permanent collection. We are proud to be able to be the first venue to display a work by Anila Agha Quayyum in Canada and thrilled to see how this work continues to enthrall and inspire our visitors.”

Marianne Fenton, Special Projects Curator, and Bita Pourvash, Associate Curator
The Aga Khan Museum

“Partners in Art provides valuable funding to help realize a variety of compelling contemporary art projects across Canada. We are very grateful for the contributions PIA has made to a number of projects at MOCA Toronto in recent years, meaningfully supporting the museum’s commissioning programme, which works closely with artists to provide them with opportunities to explore and expand their practice while also delivering unique, site-specific experiences for audiences.”

Kathleen Bartels
Executive Director & CEO, MOCA

“Partners in Art has demonstrated exceptional commitment to highlighting Canadian artists on the world stage. Since its inception, PIA has offered invaluable support to Canada’s representation at the Venice Biennale and the National Gallery of Canada’s commitment to providing Canadian artists with a platform to exhibit their work and receive global recognition. This exposure not only benefits the artists themselves but also serves to showcase the diversity and richness of Canada’s arts scene to the rest of the world. The National Gallery of Canada and the National Gallery of Canada Foundation are privileged to collaborate with such a devoted, passionate, and generous organization as PIA.”

Lisa Turcotte
Chief Executive Officer, National Gallery of Canada Foundation