Who We Are
Established in 1989 by renowned BC artist-patrons Gordon Smith, Jack Shadbolt and Bill Reid, Artists for Kids was founded with the singular intent to support children, their art education and their future.
Through art specialists, Artists for Kids provides enriching art-making experiences for thousands of students each year across Canada, as well as professional development opportunities for educators.
In 1990, the group published the first Artists for Kids Limited Edition Portfolio print, Xhuwaji / Haida Grizzly. This print by Bill Reid, based on a ceremonial drum, marked the beginning of an extraordinary partnership with now more than 100 Canadian artists - from Kenojuak Ashevak to Ian Wallace - that has produced one of the most significant limited edition collections in the country.
Proceeds from the sale of prints fund educational programs, artist residencies, art camps, scholarships, bursaries, and future acquisitions for Artists for Kids and the Gordon Smith Gallery Permanent Collection.
Artists for Kids brings together educators and the community at large, to provide inspiring, highly relevant educational experiences and enrichment, for thousands of young people annually, while encouraging students to pursue and share their own artistic voice and narrative. Through the Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art, established as Canada's first public art gallery for young audiences, Artists for Kids has created a space for young audiences and our community to experience the narrative of Canadian Art through a significant collection of visual art. As a visual arts catalyst in the community, Artists for Kids is proud to contribute to the development of a rich cultural aesthetic.
The continued growth and development of our acclaimed program in North Vancouver during the past three decades, provides substantial documentation that intentional art education in schools led by art specialists, can significantly transform young lives, inform programming in schools and ultimately shape a community in ways once thought unimaginable. We see clearly what can be accomplished and possible in education with intentional commitment, understanding and engagement.
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Artists for Kids began in 1989, and our unique approach to education has grown in reach and stature every year.
In 1989, the founders of AFK sought to find a financial model to support arts education in our schools, one that was sustainable, and in turn, would support visual arts enrichment. By purchasing art from artists, then in turn inviting each artist to create original, limited-edition prints that the program could sell, the founders created a unique and lasting fundraising vehicle. With the generosity, commitment and support of founding artist-patrons Gordon Smith, Jack Shadbolt and Bill Reid, Artists for Kids was born, and with it, the acclaimed Artist for Kids and Gordon Smith Gallery Permanent Collection of Canadian Art.
Thanks to the ongoing support of our community, artist-patrons, and the North Vancouver School District, Artist for Kids has grown from an idea onto a world-class art program.
Gordon Smith with students at Paradise Valley Summer School of Visual Art in 1994.
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The Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art is a space where education is seen not as an after-thought to curation, but as the purpose of each step we take. To ensure this, the Gordon and Marion Smith Foundation for Young Artists and Artists for Kids work collaboratively to program the Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art.
One Hundred Artists Deep Exhibition Opening, 2026. Photo by Khim Mata Hipol
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Artists for Kids provides a range of classes and programs, both in the Gallery and throughout the community:
- AFK Gallery Program and Tours
- After-School Art Classes
- Paradise Valley Summer School for the Visual Arts
- Studio Art Academy Program
- Grade 3, 7 and Secondary Enrichment Programs
- Photography Enrichment Programs
Photo by Khim Mata Hipol
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The Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art is home to the acclaimed Artists for Kids and the Gordon Smith Gallery Permanent Collection of Canadian Art. For over thirty-five years the Artists for Kids program has been acquiring masterworks from Canada’s leading artists, including our founding patrons, Gordon Smith, Jack Shadbolt and Bill Reid, as well as Robert Davidson, Graham Gilmore, E.J. Hughes, Russna Kaur, Rodney Graham, Guido Molinari, and Elizabeth MacIntosh and many more.
Visit HERE to view the collection
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The Smith Foundation promotes a greater understanding of contemporary Canadian art through the Gallery by creating:
- Seasonal exhibitions for all audiences
- Artist and curator talks and symposia with leading professionals in the field
- Publications which introduce insightful and provocative thinking about Canadian art
Learn more about the Smith Foundation and opportunities to support our exhibitions and public programs, donate online now, or become a Friend of the Gallery.
Spring 2026 Portfolio
Meet the Artists for Kids Team
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From left to right:
- Allison Kerr, Director, Artist for Kids and Gordon Smith Gallery, and District Principal, Arts Education
- Amelia Epp, District Visual Arts Teacher, Educational Coordinator
- Chantal Pinard, Artists For Kids Administrative and Program Assistant
- Emily Neufeld, Artists for Kids Studio Technician, Gallery Collection Preparator