Griffin Art Projects

What Griffin Art Projects does

Griffin Art Projects is a non-profit contemporary art organization headquartered at 1174 Welch Street in North Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded in 2015, it operates a single-physical-site exhibition gallery (free admission, Friday–Sunday hours) alongside several interconnected programs: rotating contemporary art exhibitions, an Artist Residency Program (including Emily Carr-affiliated awards and the Similkameen Artist Residency partnership), the YouthHUB youth mentorship program for grades 10–12 students, a Publications line of exhibition catalogues and zines sold for CA$9.99–CA$60, guided tours, and the Conversations on Collecting public programming series delivered both in person and online. The organization also maintains a Digital Archive documenting past exhibitions and projects such as Worldings + Future Worldings, an Indigenous-led digital archive spanning Canada and South Africa.

The revenue model is characteristic of a small arts non-profit: free gallery admission, modest earned revenue from publications and a small number of ticketed events (e.g., $20 comedy nights), with the bulk of operating support coming from grants and sponsorships. Major financial supporters include the Freybe Foundation (named for co-founder Brigitte Freybe), the Hamber Foundation, the Michael and Inna O'Brian Family Foundation, North Vancouver Recreation & Culture, and corporate sponsors such as Acera Insurance and Bravo Art Projects. The organization has no equity funding, no funding rounds in the source data, and headcount of 1–10.

Strategically, Griffin Art Projects is a curator-led institution differentiated by its hybrid gallery–residency–mentorship model and an unusually deep partnership stack with Emily Carr University, North Vancouver Recreation & Culture, Capture Photography Festival, Bill Reid Gallery, Vancouver Art Gallery, The Cinematheque, Artists for Kids / Gordon Smith Gallery, and Forge Project. The organization faces a material near-term leadership transition following the January 8, 2026 death of co-founder Brigitte Freybe. Its operating geographies are concentrated in British Columbia, though the Conversations on Collecting series and digital archives extend its reach online.

Name

Griffin Art Projects

Legal name

Griffin Art Projects

Website

https://griffinartprojects.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Griffin Art Projects is a non-profit contemporary art gallery and residency in North Vancouver, BC, operating rotating exhibitions, artist residencies, the YouthHUB mentorship program, publications, and the Conversations on Collecting series, serving the public, emerging artists, secondary-school students, collectors, and educators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contemporary Art Gallery

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Personal Enrichment & Creative Arts Programs (EDAAAEAG), Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture) (EDAMAAAA), Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA)

Keywords

• Contemporary art gallery
• Artist residency program
• Youth arts mentorship
• Exhibition publications
• Digital art archive

Headquarters

HQ city

North Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Griffin Art Projects operates a non-profit contemporary art gallery and artist residency in North Vancouver, presenting rotating exhibitions of contemporary art, an Artist Residency Program with studio space and awards, the YouthHUB mentorship program for grades 10–12 students, guided exhibition tours, and the Conversations on Collecting public programming series. The organization also publishes exhibition catalogues and maintains a digital archive documenting past programming and projects.

Product overview

Griffin Art Projects is a contemporary art gallery operating as a single unified exhibition space rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The organization offers several interconnected programs: a rotating exhibition program featuring contemporary art exhibitions (such as The Collectors, Cameron Kerr: Collecting the Unconscious, and Embodied Conversations), an Artist Residency Program providing studio space and awards to emerging artists, the YouthHUB educational mentorship program for secondary school students, Publications producing exhibition catalogues and artist books, Guided Tours offering interpretive experiences of exhibitions, and the Conversations on Collecting public programming series. The gallery also maintains a Digital Archive documenting its institutional history. All programs operate as complementary offerings within a single non-profit arts organization rather than as distinct product lines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YouthHUB: Youth mentorship program for students in grades 10-12 focusing on contemporary art engagement
• Conversations on Collecting
• Similkameen Artist Residency

Products and services

• Griffin Art Projects Gallery (Contemporary Art Exhibitions) A contemporary art gallery in North Vancouver that hosts rotating exhibitions, presenting work by emerging and established artists. Open Friday–Sunday, 12:00–5:00pm with free admission. The gallery serves the general public, art enthusiasts, and visiting artists.
• Artist Residency Program Studio residencies for emerging and professional artists providing workspace, support, and structured awards including the BIPOC Award, North Shore Studio Award, Emily Carr University MFA Graduate Award, and Okanagan Curator Award. The program is delivered in partnership with Emily Carr University and Similkameen Artist Residency.
• YouthHUB Mentorship Program Educational mentorship program for students in grades 10–12, offering studio visits, guided exhibition tours, hands-on workshops, and online artist talks with residency artists. The program is supported by Artists for Kids / Gordon Smith Gallery in partnership with North Vancouver School District.
• Griffin Art Projects Publications Exhibition catalogues and publications documenting gallery exhibitions, including titles such as Person/ne, Per Diem, Whose Chinatown, Janet Werner Sticky Pictures, and others. Sold online via the gallery's e-commerce shop at CA$9.99 to CA$60.00.
• Conversations on Collecting Series Public programming series bringing together collectors, curators, and experts to discuss contemporary art and collecting practices, including international online discussions. Co-curated by Director Lisa Baldissera and Adjunct Curator Emily Butler.
• Digital Archive Online resource documenting past exhibitions, artist residencies, and projects, including the Worldings + Future Worldings digital archive with text, photos, and video documentation revealing international resonances and divergences of Truth and Reconciliation Commissions through Indigenous researchers and artists in Canada, South Africa and beyond.
• Guided Tours Free bi-weekly exhibition tours led by gallery staff and curators, offering visitors interpretive experiences of current exhibitions, including Summer Sunday Tours and specialized tours for groups and educational institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 years of continuous programming celebrating 10th anniversary in 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Capture Photography FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 April 2026Annual photography festival co-presenting featured tours of Griffin exhibitions. Expands reach to broader photography audience.
• North Vancouver Recreation & CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey municipal partner providing funding and support for programs and exhibitions. Sponsors exhibitions like Cameron Kerr: Collecting the Unconscious and YouthHUB programming through Special Projects, New Initiatives & Events in Development Grant Program.
• Acera InsurancesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of 10th anniversary programs and Conversations on Collecting series. Provides marketing and financial support for special programming.
• Bravo Art Projects and ServicessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of 10th anniversary programs. Supports various exhibitions and public programming initiatives.
• Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary educational partner offering Fellowship Studio Awards, MFA Graduate Awards, and Education & Outreach Fellowships. Collaborates on residency exchanges and provides student access to professional artists and curators.
• Similkameen Artist Residency (SAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing Similkameen Artist Residency Studio Award in collaboration with Griffin and ECU. Features dedicated studio space and facilities for artists.
• Artists for Kids / Gordon Smith GallerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner supporting YouthHUB and Youth Mentorship programs. Provides Studio Art Academy opportunities for North Vancouver secondary students through partnership with North Vancouver School District.
• The CinemathequesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFilm venue partner hosting The Collectors Film Series screenings including Russian Ark, The Proposal, and The Melt Goes On Forever documentaries.
• Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast ArtsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner co-presenting 'Seriously?' comedy series featuring Indigenous comedians. Located at 639 Hornby Street, Vancouver.
• Vancouver Art GallerysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for Conversations on Collecting: Transformational Legacies event and broader arts programming. Partnership includes Contemporary Art Society Vancouver (CASV).
• Space LabsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerVancouver's premier audio and vintage home decor shop providing hi-fi soundsystem for listening session events at Griffin.
• Forge Project (New York)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNative-led non-profit cultivating Indigenous leadership in arts and culture. Executive Director Candice Hopkins participated in Conversations on Collecting International series.
• Aboriginal Gathering Place at Emily Carr UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Worldings + Future Worldings project, supporting Indigenous artistic and scholarly exchanges.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Emily Carr University of Art + Design Galleries: ECU operates exhibition spaces and residency/award programs including those granted in partnership with Griffin. Closely comparable institution given formal partnership on MFA awards, residencies, and Aboriginal Gathering Place collaboration.
• Capture Photography Festival: Vancouver annual photography festival presenting exhibitions and public programs across partner venues including Griffin. Directly comparable programming partner with overlapping audience and co-presentation model.
• Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art: A Vancouver-based gallery presenting Indigenous and Northwest Coast art with exhibitions, public programs, and partnerships. Directly comparable to Griffin as a regional contemporary/Indigenous-focused gallery operating co-presented programming and educational outreach.
• Forge Project: Native-led New York non-profit cultivating Indigenous leadership in arts and culture, with international programming including conversations featuring curator Candice Hopkins. Comparable as a non-profit focused on Indigenous arts and reconciliation with international programming reach.
• Similkameen Artist Residency (SAR): BC-based artist residency providing studio space and facilities. Operates a direct Studio Award partnership with Griffin and shares emerging-artist development as a core mission.
• Artists for Kids / Gordon Smith Gallery: North Vancouver non-profit operating Gordon Smith Gallery and youth art education programs in partnership with the North Vancouver School District. Directly comparable to Griffin's YouthHUB mentorship model and North Vancouver footprint.
• Contemporary Art Society Vancouver (CASV): Vancouver-based non-profit supporting contemporary art collecting and programming through member events and education. Closely aligned with Griffin's Conversations on Collecting series and collector engagement focus.

Broad incumbents

• Vancouver Art Gallery: Western Canada's largest art museum with rotating contemporary exhibitions, collector programming, and extensive education initiatives. Comparable as a Vancouver contemporary art venue with Conversations on Collecting and exhibition partnerships; broader portfolio and larger scale than Griffin.
• Audain Art Museum: Whistler-based art museum presenting permanent and rotating exhibitions with strong Indigenous and British Columbia art programming. Comparable as a BC non-profit contemporary/Indigenous art venue with foundation support and educational outreach.
• The Polygon Gallery: North Vancouver contemporary photography and media art gallery with exhibitions, education programs, and publications. Comparable regional contemporary art venue with similar community-education orientation and North Shore audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/griffin-art-projects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Griffin Art Projects