A commentary by the chair of the Bateman Foundation.
It has been several months since the Bateman Foundation closed our gallery doors after almost 10 years at the Steamship Building.
Our gallery offered a cultural destination spot to not only showcase some of Robert Bateman’s art but also provided visitors a chance to understand his story and his beliefs in art and nature.
We proudly showcased many Canadian and world-renowned nature-focused artists. It was especially the home of NatureSketch, our educational program that delivered incredible naturalist art and nature education to all ages across Canada.
It was critically important to the board, family, and staff that we do everything possible to continue to promote Robert’s philosophy and inspire others to use art with nature.
The lasting benefits of this combination are second to none and Robert is a testament to just that.
The NatureSketch program needed a partner to expand the reach of our educational offerings and we were pleased to arrive at an agreement with the Canadian Wildlife Federation. Those connected to this great organization will see Robert’s educational series offered.
The Bateman Foundation also owned some works of art by Robert, and we thought places like the University of Victoria, The Grizzly Bear Foundation and the Royal Ontario Museum would be appropriate locations, and agreements were made.
We also are going through the process of passing our legacy funds from the Victoria Foundation to the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
We greatly appreciate the support we have received from Kaeli Yarwood at Steffich Fine Art for being a hub for Robert Bateman prints.
Steps continue to find suitable partnerships for our collection of limited-edition Robert Bateman print sales to support local charitable organizations.
The team at the Gallery was brilliant during the closing and we were thrilled to see them all find new opportunities in B.C.
For a decade, the Times Colonist showcased one or two Robert Bateman paintings during the holiday season. That tradition is continuing this year.
As Robert says, “nature is magic,” and no other artist in Canada has captured the beauty of nature more than Robert Bateman.
