Jenny Peng
Van. Courier
Emily Carr University is the recipient of the largest donation in Canada to an arts-only university.
Reliance Properties announced a $7-million donation towards Emily Carr University, which is the largest donation Emily Carr University ever received. The money will help build the Libby Leshgold Gallery and the Reliance Lecture Theatre at Emily Carr’s new Great Northern Way campus.
The university hopes that the new gallery and theatre will facilitate collaborations from local, national and international visionaries.
The spaces will be used to hold events, exhibitions, and programs that will “enhance academic curriculum” and “shape its residents’ urban experience.”
The announcement was made May 2 at Emily Carr’s Granville Island campus with speeches from the school’s campaign executives and Kirby Goldstein who spoke on behalf of her late grandmother Libby Leshgold, whose family founded Reliance Properties and whom the gallery is named after. Leshgold was a Vancouver-based interior designer from Winnipeg who imbued her work with “creativity” and “elegant style.” Leshgold also influenced many of Reliance Properties’ designs.
The $7 million donation will cover a portion of Emily Carr’s $25 million fundraising campaign to add to the provincial government’s $113 million contribution towards building the new campus. Construction of the campus is expected to start late fall and completed by fall 2016.
The new campus will accommodate roughly 1,800 students, span 26,600 square metres, and feature four main areas for studio and academic programs, learning support, administration and student services.
© Vancouver Courier
