Malaspina Printmakers

Malaspina is a provincially incorporated society and a registered Canadian charity, founded in 1975 by a group of printmaking students, fellows, and instructors from the Vancouver School of Art (now the Emily Carr University of Art + Design). Their objective was to secure federal funding for an international printmaking exhibition. In the past 45 years, Malaspina has developed into a support organization for print culture by building strong relationships with artists, organizations, and cultural practitioners throughout the world. Its programs have been expanded beyond exhibitions to include studio rentals, workshops, mentorships, archives, residencies, and sales. Malaspina has been situated in a 2,500 square foot facility on Granville Island since 1981.

Malaspina’s mandate is:
- To increase the public’s understanding and appreciation of the arts by curating exhibitions and managing a public gallery for the display of contemporary art that pushes the boundaries of, and expands discourse around, print media;
- To promote the development of, and excellence in, print media by renting studio facilities, as well as specialized equipment and tools, to enable artists to practice and produce their work, thereby increasing the affordability of, and accessibility to, resources that are otherwise rare or unavailable;
- To advance education by providing structured learning activities, such as workshops, classes, demonstrations and/or lectures, about print media, and by providing opportunities for students to research and practice their work in conjunction with these learning activities;
-  To promote the practice of print media and maintain high standards in that industry, by developing or providing funds for research, visiting and/or student artist residencies;
-  To advance education in print media by conducting research on best practices related to contemporary art and print media, and by disseminating the results of the research to the public through the form of written publications and/or catalogues.