Centre A

Centre A, formally known as the Vancouver International Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, is a non-profit public art gallery in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1999, it is the only public gallery in Canada dedicated exclusively to contemporary Asian and Asian Diasporic visual art practices. The institution operates as a registered charity and is committed to the research, production, presentation, and interpretation of contemporary Asian art. Its distinctive mission has made it a significant venue for fostering dialogue between North American and Asian artistic communities.

Centre A was established in 1999 by three founders: Hank Bull, who served as Founding Director, alongside Zheng Shengtian and Stephanie Holmquist. The gallery has been governed by a board of directors that included respected community members such as Milton Wong, Joanne Louie Mah, Joe Wai, and Anndraya Luui. Over its history, a succession of curators and directors shaped the institution's programming and growth, including Sadira Rodrigues, Alice Ming Wai Jim, Makiko Hara, Haema Sivanesan, Tyler Russell, and Henry Heng Lu. The Reading Room and Library also began in 1999, built from contributions by artists, researchers, and curators locally and internationally.

Centre A's holdings and programming centre on contemporary Asian art and Asian Diasporic visual art practices. The Reading Room and Library collects publications that reflect and engage in conversations concerning contemporary Asian and Asian diasporic art practices, as well as the artistic relationships between North America and Asia. A notable component of its collection is the Fraser Finlayson Collection of rare books on Classical Chinese and Japanese Art, with publications dating back to the late 19th century. This specialized resource supports scholarly research and deepens understanding of historical contexts for contemporary practice.

The gallery has exhibited numerous notable Canadian and international contemporary artists. These include Yoko Ono, Lida Abdul, Abbas Akhavan, Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries, Hajira Waheed, Ali Kazimi, Lani Maestro, Kyohei Sakaguchi, Jim Wong-Chu, and Samson Young. The Fraser Finlayson Collection of rare books on Classical Chinese and Japanese Art, with publications from the late 19th century onward, represents a significant holding within the Reading Room and Library.

Centre A has occupied several locations since its founding. It was originally situated at 849 Homer Street, near the Vancouver Public Library's central branch. The gallery subsequently moved to 2 West Hastings Street in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, during which period Makiko Hara served as Curator. In 2013, under Haema Sivanesan's direction, Centre A relocated to 229 East Georgia Street in Chinatown. Between 2017 and 2018, the institution moved to its current location at the Sun Wah Centre, 268 Keefer Street, a 3,300 square foot space.

Centre A is located at the Sun Wah Centre, 268 Keefer Street, in Vancouver's Chinatown. The gallery is a non-profit public institution and registered charity, owned and operated as a community-based organization. Its current 3,300 square foot space at the Sun Wah Centre serves as the primary venue for exhibitions, programming, and public engagement with contemporary Asian and Asian Diasporic art. The Reading Room and Library remain accessible resources for researchers and the public interested in the gallery's specialized focus.