demographics, climate, topography, and econom-
ics. Since Confederation, cultural institutions such
as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the
National Film Board have held the country
together and created a cohesive force across the
vast land mass. From these public institutions
with audiences of ‘‘middle Canadians’’ has evolved
an interest in the medium of photography that is
now embedded in collections in museums across
Canada. Photography as a democratic art form
and leveler of variances suits Canada’s national
personality in its accessibility, documentary nat-
ure, transportability, and ease of communication
as a medium.
Many of Canada’s finest museums across the
country boast excellent photographic collections
that in many cases rival those of major world insti-
tutions. Only a selection of the better known of
these museums are highlighted, with other photo-
graphic treasures to be found in this vast country.
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
The fine art collection of the Art Gallery of Greater
Victoria began in the early 1940s, and became open
to the public in 1947. The Gallery, now with over
17,000 works of art, is one of Canada’s finest
museums. The focus of the Art Gallery is to engage
the public in nuances of the art world, while striving
to be the leader in visual arts in British Columbia and
Canada. Housed in an historic nineteenth century
mansion, the collection includes Asian, historic Cana-
dian and European and contemporary art with an
emphasis on Canadian and Japanese art. The con-
temporary art consists of mainly works from artists
in western Canada, and includes photography.
Although only about five years in the making,
the photography collection now holds almost 200
works. The works are by Canadian photographers,
and include many pieces by the photographer
Claude Benoit. The Gallery has recently begun to
exhibit new media. One notable exhibition in July
of 2004 was Farheen Haq, Breathing Space,a
photography and video installation.
http://www.aggv.bc.ca
Art Gallery of Hamilton
With its first acquisition of 29 paintings by William
Blair Bruce in 1914, the Art Gallery of Hamilton
(AGH) has been continually expanding, and is now
Ontario’s third largest public art gallery. The
strength of the AGH lies in its 8,500-plus works per-
manent collection, emphasizing nineteenth century
European, historical Canadian, and contemporary
Canadian art. Particular attention has been placed
on women artists, as well as twentieth century
Canadian artists. All works in the AGH collection
can be recognized as significant achievements in
bringing an understanding of visual arts for the
people of Hamilton, and abroad.
Within the permanent collection are over 320
photographs by many significant Canadian and in-
ternational artists. As the entire collection grows,
the photography collection is expected to grow as
well. Many of the artists are contemporary, includ-
ing Suzy Lake, Evergon, Genevie`ve Cadieux,
Angela Grauerholz, and Robin Collyer. An impor-
tant photographic exhibition hosted by the AGH
currently on tour of the region is The Eye of
Edward Steichen, featuring Steichen’s work from
the 1920s and 1930s. Currently, the AGH is under
construction, but will reopen in the Spring of 2005
with two major exhibitions;Lasting Impressions:
Celebrated Works from the Art Gallery of Hamilton,
andHeaven and Earth Unveiled: European Treas-
ures from the Tanenbaum Collection.
http://www.artgalleryofhamilton.on.caArt Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador
The permanent collection of the Art Gallery of New-
foundland and Labrador (AGNL) is a culmination
of the Memorial University of Newfoundland collec-
tion, begun in 1961, the J.K. Pratt Memorial collec-
tion, begun in 1986, and the AGNL collection begun
in 1994. The entire permanent collection now held at
theAGNLcomprisesover5,500worksofart.The
AGNL holds examples of painting, printmaking,
drawing, sculpture, indigenous crafts, experimental
media, and photography. The first priority of the
AGNL is to collect works of art by contemporary
and historical artists in the Newfoundland and Lab-
rador area. The collection also includes works about
the area, as well as many works by other contempor-
ary Canadian artists. The AGNL has accepted a
mandate to provide for the public visual works of
art that hold the ideas and aesthetics of the artist in
their communities.
Modest in comparison to the entire collection,
the AGNL holds a collection of contemporary
photography. Of the approximately 100 works,
Canadian artists represented include Marlene Cre-
ates and Steven Livick. The AGNL generally pre-
sents about 20 exhibitions per year. Two significant
exhibits including photography were Manfred
Buchheit, A Retrospective, in 1996 andLight Proof
in 2000.MUSEUMS: CANADA