UNIT/PITT (formerly the Helen Pitt Gallery) is a non-profit artist run center dedicated to the promotion of experimental contemporary art that addresses social, political, cultural, and critical issues.
The history of the Helen Pitt Gallery, named for the British Columbian patron of the arts, dates back to the mid-1970s. It was first established by students of the Vancouver School of Art (later the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design). It served as a venue for expression and community building for the students and instructors of the school. When ECIAD (now Emily Carr University) moved to Granville Island, the gallery joined with the Unit 306 Society for Art and Critical Awareness to become an independent artist-run center, receiving initial funding from Canada Council in 1981. The gallery is currently operated by the Unit Pitt Society For Art And Critical Awareness.
Over its history, the gallery has established itself as an asset to the Vancouver art community, having been the key starting point for the careers of many artists such as Attila Richard Lukacs, Angela Grossman, Graham Gilmore, Derek Root, Peter Schuyff, I Braineater, Vicky Marshall, Teresa Marshall and Althea Thauberger. The Pitt has also showcased such performers as ORAF, Sheri-D Wilson, Elizabeth Fischer, bill bisset, Veda Hille, Margo Kane, Tagny Duff and Joe Sarahan along with curators, Michael Harding, Todd A. Davis, Dana Claxton and Jeremy Todd. The Helen Pitt Gallery also played an important role in the origin of projects like Issue Magazine, the Vancouver Artists’ League, Women In View Festival, the Warehouse and October Shows (later Artropolis). Through its many incarnations (Helen Pitt, Unit/Pitt, Pitt International Galleries/P.I.G., Pitt Gallery, and now UNIT/PITT Projects), it has continued to be an important center for community building.
UNIT/PITT is actively involved in artist-run culture in Canada, and is a member of the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centers, PAARC.
Executive Director Keith Higgins
Board of Directors Cornelia Wyngaarden, Brian McBay, Jesse Gray, Charlie Satterleee.
Archive Assistant, Fall 2011 Brynn McNab
Publications Assistant, Fall 2011 Amanda Jehring
Media Content Assistant, Fall 2011 Annie Hong
Program Development Assistant, Fall 2011 Mark Cunningham