Donating Artwork

From a scattering of gifts over the years, the Foundation, in 2003, turned the walls of Louis Brier into a veritable art gallery. More importantly, the paintings which decorate our halls provide warmth making our Home inviting and comfortable for all who live here.

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What kind of artwork are you looking for?
What do you consider suitable to hang immediately?
What do you mean by raising the calibre of the collection?
Will you accept my artwork if it doesn’t meet the criteria above?
What does other purposes mean?
What is the Art Fund?
Will I receive a tax receipt when I make a donation of art?
Guidelines for Donation of Artwork

Below is a list of our most commonly asked questions.

Q: What kind of artwork are you looking for?
A: The purpose of collecting art is threefold: to enhance the residents’ physical environment, to continue to raise the calibre of Louis Brier’s collection, and to sell to raise money for Louis Brier (or for Louis Brier’s art program). We recognize that taste in art is personal and might not be shared by everyone. That is why a committee with resident representation considers and discusses each donation before deciding to accept it.

Q: What do you consider suitable to hang immediately?
A: To brighten the walls immediately, we’re looking for quality artwork that is pleasing to the eye and is appropriate for current display.

We have a plethora of portraits and studies of rabbis and would prefer not to receive more for display (unless they are by nationally or internationally recognized artists). And, because our focus is on art, we are not seeking craftwork such as needlepoint, embroidery, macramé, and the like unless it is exceptional or by nationally or internationally recognized crafts artists. In some cases we may consider pottery and stained glass.

Q: What do you mean by raising the calibre of the collection?
A: Our goal is to create a first-class art collection. To that end, we are seeking donations of original oil, acrylic and water colour paintings, signed limited edition silk screens, lithographs, etchings, photographs, and sculptures by well-known professional and up-and-coming artists. We will also consider rare or antique noteworthy furniture and judaica.

Q: Will you accept my artwork if it doesn’t meet the criteria above?
A: Sometimes art we receive is not of a style or design suitable for the public areas, is not by a well-known artist, or is not of exceptional merit. In those cases you will be asked if you’d like the artwork returned, or if you’ll leave it with us to use for other purposes.

Q: What does other purposes mean?
A: We’d like to hold periodic sales, where artwork and other items will be sold to raise money for the Campus.

Q: What is the Art Fund?
A: Quality art requires care and attention, and we need to raise funds to repair broken frames, change the mats, replace glass and periodically clean paintings. As the value of individual works increases, we may need to purchase additional insurance. Some high quality art must be lit in a particular way, or hung in a temperature and humidity controlled environment. The Art Fund is used for those purposes.

If you would like to support Louis Brier’s art initiative and don’t have art to donate, you can make a financial donation to Louis Brier and specify that it be directed to the Art Fund.

Q: Will I receive a tax receipt when I make a donation of art?
A: Canada Revenue Agency has developed strict rules governing both charitable organizations and the donation of artwork. Before Louis Brier can issue a tax receipt for artwork, the piece should be appraised by an independent art expert to determine its fair market value. If a charitable organization is audited and found to have issued a tax receipt for a higher amount than the true value of the work, it can be subject to serious penalties.

Financial donations to the Art Fund are eligible for tax receipts for the full amount. For an outline of how a donation of art is accepted, please click here.

Statement of Values:
Fine art can go a long way to enhancing the environment in which it exists and, in some instances, has proven to be a powerful healing aid.  The Art Committee of the Louis Brier Jewish Aged Foundation is dedicated to promoting a stimulating, attractive and restorative environment for the benefit of residents and their families, staff, volunteers, and visitors.  Art can contribute to achieving this objective.

The Committee supports and encourages the donation of artwork to enhance the lives and contribute to the well-being of residents of the Snider Campus, site of the Louis Brier Home and Hospital and Weinberg Residence.  Recognizing the life experience and special needs of many of its residents, the Art Committee has created these Guidelines to ensure that artwork donated to the Foundation contributes to resident’s well-being in the best possible way.

The Foundation’s goal is to create a gallery-quality collection of art for the enjoyment of residents, employees, and visitors alike.

Donating Art
If you would like to donate art or have questions please contact Dvori Balshine at 604-26-5909 or email dbalshine@louisbrier.com

We greatly appreciate the generosity and support of the community in donating artwork that is creating a beautiful and stimulating environment for our residents. Your collaboration is making a difference to the quality of life of our residents.

As the collection grows and changes over time, the type of art we add to it will change as well. Unfortunately, we just don’t have the space to accept every piece of art intended for donation.

Currently, we are particularly seeking: 

• original oil, acrylic and watercolour paintings, mixed media pieces and sculptures by recognized artists
• numbered and signed limited edition silkscreens, lithographs and etchings by recognized artists
• antique Judaica

We are not able to consider:

• posters, giclées, and other non-original works
• embroidery, needlepoint, crewel, tapestry and other fabric art produced after 1900

The Donation Process
The Art Committee meets regularly to review donations under consideration. Among other things, we take into account the needs of the residents, the general appropriateness of the work, and its suitability for display.

There are 3 options:

• the artwork is accepted and will be added to the collection;
• the artwork is not quite right for the public space: it will be offered to residents for their room, or will be stored and may later be sold. If sold, the proceeds will be used for maintaining the collection;
• the artwork does not fit with the needs of the collection, the home, or the residents.

When Art is Accepted for the Collection
Once the art is accepted for the collection we will need information to support the work’s provenance and cataloguing. That’s why we ask the donor to provide:

• a photographic image of the artwork;
• a description of the artwork, including the name of the piece, its dimensions and medium;
• a brief resume of the artist and his or her exhibition history, if available

Occasionally a piece will need to be framed or reframed so that it can be appropriately displayed. In that case the donor is expected to cover the entire cost of framing or reframing the donated artwork, according to the specifications of the Art Committee.

A donor is expected to cover the entire cost of transporting the artwork to the Snider Campus, as well as the entire cost of any special hanging, display, or installation required.

The Art Committee, in consultation with the Director of Development, will select the location the artwork will be displayed.

For further information, please call Dvori Balshine, Director of Development at
604-261-5550 or Elliot Nitkin, Art Committee Chair at tel # 604-351-9251
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