BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS  

Vancouver School Board

1886 - current


The Vancouver School Board provided support for the arts in Vancouver in a number of ways, not the least of which was the teaching of art in school.

One of the school board's early instructors was John Kyle, who became a significant supporter of the arts and education in British Columbia. He arrived in Vancouver in 1905 to take up the position of Art Supervisor for City Schools.

In 1914 Charles H. Scott arrived in Vancouver to take up the position, which he held until 1925 with the exception of time spent overseas in World War One.

Spencer Percival Judge began working as an art teacher for the VSB in 1917, and was promoted to Supervisor of Drawing in 1925 to replace Scott.

From at least 1912 to 1925 the school board loaned their offices to the B.C. Society of Fine Arts for the society's annual exhibitions.

From 1919 to 1930 the school board published the magazine School Days for school children in Vancouver and around the province. The magazine was illustrated by numerous local artists - see article for more information.

In 1925 the School Board gave its support to the founding of an arts school in Vancouver, and also loaned its offices to the new Vancouver School of Decorative and Fine Arts, for lack of finances to put the school anywhere else.


References

VANCOUVER HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE - CALENDAR SESSION 1906 - 1907
      1906; 32 pages; published by Vancouver School Board; illustrated with photographs
      Includes historical sketch, curriculum; list of previous year's students
      Includes early references to John Kyle (then City Supervisor of Drawing) and David Blair

VANCOUVER CITY SCHOOLS - TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 1914
      12th Annual Report; Published by the Board of School Trustees, City of Vancouver
      100 pages illustrated; soft cover with drawing by Charles H. Scott
      Includes Report on Drawing by Charles H. Scott
      Also complete statistics on students, attendance, buildings, teachers, courses, etc.

VANCOUVER CITY SCHOOLS - TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 1915
      13th Annual Report; Published by the Board of School Trustees, City of Vancouver
      108 pages illustrated; soft cover with drawing by Charles H. Scott
      Includes Report on Drawing by Charles H. Scott, page 44,
      and Honor Roll by the Editor, re Scott painting.
      Also complete statistics on students, attendance, buildings, teachers, courses, etc.

VANCOUVER CITY SCHOOLS - TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 1919
      17th Annual Report; Published by the Board of School Trustees, City of Vancouver
      106 pages illustrated; soft cover illustrated with 1915 drawing by Charles H. Scott
      Includes Report on Drawing by Charles H. Scott
      Also complete statistics on students, attendance, buildings, teachers, courses, etc.

VANCOUVER CITY SCHOOLS - TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 1921
      19th Annual Report; Published by the Board of School Trustees, City of Vancouver
      112 pages illustrated; soft cover illustrated with 1915 drawing by Charles H. Scott
      Includes Report on Drawing by Charles H. Scott
      Also complete statistics on students, attendance, buildings, teachers, courses, etc.

VANCOUVER CITY SCHOOLS - TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 1925
      23rd Annual Report; Published by the Board of School Trustees, City of Vancouver
      136 pages illustrated; soft cover with drawing by Charles H. Scott
      Includes School of Decorative and Applied Arts Report by G.T. Sharp page 95,
      Also includes Drawing Report by S.P. Judge page 85.
      Art school references pages 10, 19, 26, art class photos pages 96 and 97
      Also complete statistics on students, attendance, buildings, teachers, courses, etc.

FIRST FIFTY YEARS 1890 - 1940 VANCOUVER HIGH SCHOOLS
      Published by Vancouver School Board, 1940
      No ISBN, hardcover, 160 pages. Illustrated b&w photographs.
      Includes history of Vancouver School of Art by C.H. Scott

VANCOUVER SCHOOLS DIAMOND JUBILEE SOUVENIR PROGRAMME
      1946; 4 pages; published by Vancouver School Board
      Cover images by Fred Amess

Clippings

"A rapid preliminary survey of the walls of the B.C. Society of Fine Arts Exhibition in the School Board offices on Hamilton Street reveals two pictures of outstanding merit where all are good. One is a portrait and the other is a landscape - for want of a better name."
      From "B.C. Fine Arts Society Exhibition (First Notice)"
      Vancouver Province, May 15 1923

"In response to numerous requests it has been arranged that the exhibition at the School Board offices, Hamilton Street, will remain open to the public all next week from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m."
      From "Exhibition of B.C. Society of Fine Arts (Second Notice)"
      Vancouver Province, May 9 1924

"It has now been decided that the best way of bringing about the fruition of this work will be to co-operate with the School Board as by this means certain funds appropriated for art instruction by the Federal Government will be available."
      From "Coming Art School"
      Vancouver Province, January 13 1925

"... a basis was at last arrived at whereby it was agreed that the school should be started this fall in connection with the Vancouver Board of School Trustees. ... "
      From "An Arts and Crafts School"
      Vancouver Province, July 7 1925

"Some time ago the United Commercial Travellers of America, Vancouver Council, announced a safety poster contest open to children in Vancouver schools in the upper grades. The results of this competition are now on view at the gallery, with conspicuous honors going to pupils of John Oliver High School. John Brendon from John Oliver captured first prize in the senior class with a strong, original entry which would do credit to a professional commercial artist. Derward Smith of the same school won second place in this group. First prize in the junior class was carried off by Joan Thompson of King George High School, while second prize in this class goes to Jean Ortlieb of John Oliver School. All the competitors have handled their entries in a broad, simple and effective manner, showing a clear grasp of the type of work required, coupled with good ideas."
      From "Three Exhibits On View At Art Gallery"
      Vancouver Sun, April 30 1942

" ... His poster was one of a number chosen from contestants in Vancouver schools for international competition, and will be shown in competition with others from many parts of Canada and the United States in a final judging in Columbus, Ohio. ... "
      From "Vancouver Lad Wins in Seattle Poster Competition"
      Vancouver Province, June 6 1942


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