Media Release

Date: November 09, 2006

New Downtown Gallery Honours Williams Legacy

1949 architectural drawing by William F. Gardiner of site of future gallery.

When he died on Nov. 9, 2000, the late Victoria philanthropist, patron of the arts and heritage developer Michael Williams left virtually his entire estate, including property and an extensive art collection, to the University of Victoria. His will also expressed a wish that proceeds from that legacy be used to establish a downtown art gallery.

Today, UVic President David Turpin honoured that wish, announcing that the university will establish a University of Victoria downtown art gallery at 630 Yates Street to showcase art from the Pacific Northwest—including pieces from the Williams collection.

“Michael wanted to share his passion for art with the people of the city he loved so much. Over the past few years, we have been looking for the right opportunity to achieve Michael’s dream, and I’m pleased to say, that opportunity has arrived,” says Turpin.

The site of the gallery, on the corner of Yates and Broad streets, is a structure built in 1950 for the Bank of Toronto. Considered one of the city’s best examples of “early modern” architecture, the building was part of the legacy Williams left to UVic. The structure’s current tenant, Starfish Gallery, opted not to renew its lease, creating the opportunity for a new use for the building.

In announcing the gallery, UVic is respecting Williams’ wish that it not bear his name. The new gallery program will be based around Williams’ collection of over 1,000 paintings, drawings and sculptures by some of the most renowned artists of the Pacific Northwest.

The gallery will open in the summer of 2007. To view the Williams art collection online visit www.maltwood.uvic.ca/mcw/

--30--

Media Contacts:
Patty Pitts (UVic Communications) at (250) 721-7656 or ppitts@uvic.ca
Martin Segger (Maltwood Art Museum and Gallery) at (250) 721-8298 or msegger@uvic.ca

Photos Page:
New Downtown Gallery Honours Williams Legacy Images

UVic media releases and other resources for journalists are available on the World Wide Web at http://communications.uvic.ca/media

Back to Navigation

Top