Statement by Melanie O’Brian, Chair of the Jack and Doris Shadbolt Foundation
The Jack and Doris Shadbolt Foundation Arts Awards is honored to return this spring to celebrate influential individuals making a positive impact in the visual arts community.
The VIVA Award recipients exemplify the strength and quality of the work being done by artists in our community. Their determination to continue to make engaging and thought-provoking works of visual art are an inspiration to us all. The VIVA Awards continue the legacy of Jack and Doris Shadbolt whose foundation has been celebrating the achievements of British Columbia artists since 1988.
Also through the generosity of the Estate of Abraham Rogatnick, the Alvin Balkind Curator’s Prize celebrates the achievements of British Columbia curators, both independent and those working in institutions. The vision of Jack, Doris, and Abraham in establishing these awards has had a positive impact on the art community and will for the foreseeable future.
This year, in 2026, we are awarding one VIVA Award and one Alvin Balkind Curator’s Prize for the year 2025. On behalf of the trustees I would like to congratulate this year’s recipient of the VIVA Award, Justine A. Chambers and the Alvin Balkind Curator’s Prize recipient, Lorna Brown. The VIVA jury members were Jesse Birch, Gabrielle L’Hirondelle Hill, Anne Low, Cindy Mochizuki, and Jan Wade. The Balkind Prize jury members were Bopha Chhay, Rhys Edwards, and Charo Neville. Their generosity and thoughtful deliberations are greatly appreciated. We are looking forward to celebrating the 2025 recipients and the ceremony will be an event open to the public on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 6pm at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees,
Melanie O’Brian, Chair