UNIT/PITT Projects, one of Vancouver’s most enduring artist-run galleries, is announcing a major change in direction.

Founded by art students in 1975 as the Helen Pitt Gallery, the Pitt has provided crucial early-career support for hundreds of Vancouver artists, as well as presenting music, dance, and film. Since our re-launch in 2011 as UNIT/PITT Projects, the Pitt’s programme of exhibitions was augmented by adventurous programming that did not require the four walls of a conventional gallery, including broadcasting, public processions, publishing, street posters, lectures, screenings, festivals of art bands, and performance. Building on the success of our non-gallery programming, this spring UNIT/PITT will shift its focus to supporting and presenting innovative projects by new artists, directly reaching a wider public outside of the gallery system.

Kay Higgins, Executive Director: “We have presented a lot of excellent and memorable exhibitions over the past seven years, but many of our very best projects have been ones that didn’t actually need the inside of a gallery. We will continue our strong support of emerging and early-career artists by working closely with those artists to commission and present inventive, relevant, and rule-breaking projects that reach and engage with larger audiences than before.”

The UNIT/PITT Society for Art and Critical Awareness will be making further announcements about the specific artists we will be working with in the weeks and months to come. We thank everyone who has supported us in our most recent exhibition venue at 236 East Pender Street, including our joint venture partners in building operations, 221A Artist Run Centre.

UNIT/PITT Projects (formerly the Helen Pitt Gallery) is a non-profit artist-run centre dedicated to the promotion of experimental contemporary art that addresses social, political, cultural, and critical issues. The Pitt has been a starting point for the careers of hundreds of artists since we first opened our doors in 1975. We continue to present and foster emerging artists and emerging practices through our public programs and through internship, residency, and training programs.

Posted by:Kay Higgins

Executive Director of UNIT/PITT from 2010 to 2018. Artist, writer, publisher.