Quest University’s artist in residence program attracted a major patron last week.
On Thursday, the TD Bank made a contribution of $100,000 to the university’s program during a gala reception in Vancouver. James Kershaw, TD Bank Group’s Pacific regional head of private wealth management, commended Quest for preparing students for the challenges of the 21st century.
Through the artist in residence program, students at Quest spend a regular block of three and a half weeks working with an instructor, starting with introductory material before the students, themselves, work on individual projects.
For the announcement, some of the past artists in residence attended, as did several Quest university students who talked about what they learned through the process. They also exhibited some of their work, including the shoes made while studying with recent artist in residence and shoemaker Amara Hark-Weber.
Leslie de Bie, the university’s director of development and alumni relations, said the evening offered a great opportunity to introduce Quest to people from foundations and philanthropic agencies, many of whom knew little about the university.
“For those individuals to get to know about Quest, it was a great opportunity,” she said. “I think it’s the students that sell the experience.”
Dignitaries at the gala included David Strangway, the former University of British Columbia president who went on to co-found Quest.
“He was really pleased to see the students enjoying the Quest experience,” de Bie said.
The university offers students a chance to delve into a subject in a small class setting. The contribution from TD Bank will allow Quest to continue bringing in more artists in residence.
“It goes right back into artists,” de Bie said. “It goes to hiring more artists for this program.”
The program has included a range of artists in residence, including writer Beatrix Gates, sculptor and film visual effects specialist James Stewart, and multimedia artists Laurel Terlesky and Lauren Marsden.
De Bie credits TD for its support of the arts in general as well as the contribution for the university’s program and said the gala was a way to acknowledge the relationship.
“Having TD giving this grant, it opens the way for other institutions,” she said.
