Shenkman Lecture in Contemporary Art Archives
Shenkman Lecture in Contemporary Art Archives
An annual lecture focused on contemporary art has been created at University of Guelph through a generous endowment provided by Dasha Shenkman, a Canadian art collector who has lived in the United Kingdom for 40 years. Shenkman has long been committed to the development of young artists and has been involved with a number of arts-oriented organizations, either at board level or as a consultant, says Prof. John Kissick, director of the School of Fine Art and Music. "Dasha's gift will allow the University to bring in five speakers over the next five years who can speak eloquently about contemporary art and contemporary culture in a way that will have ramifications for young artists," he says. "This significant endowment is a testament to her compelling vision of creating a yearly point of access to internationally renowned figures in contemporary art for Guelph students at a critical time in their development. We are sincerely grateful for the endowment and her extraordinary commitment to the Guelph program."
"The idea behind this endowment is to invite speakers who can address the University community as a whole about contemporary art in its many-faceted and complicated dimensions, and also for people to gain knowledge and wisdom from the artist that they can apply to their own work," says Kissick.
Kissick said the lecture series gives the University community a unique opportunity to interact with some of the leading international figures in contemporary art. "The lectures also spotlight the University's superb graduate program in the visual arts, which is known as one of the country's best."