Arthur Erickson Conservancy [AEC]

Advocacy, Education, Conservation

The Arthur Erickson Conservancy is the sole authoritative organization representing the artist, in perpetuity, taking as its mission the conservation of the Erickson legacy.

Mission Statement

The Arthur Erickson Conservancy (AEC) is the sole artist-authorized agency for the work of Arthur Erickson, in perpetuity. As a charitable organization, the Conservancy acts on behalf of the artist regarding his intellectual property; facilitates the conservation and stewardship of buildings and landscapes designed by Arthur Erickson through documentation, advocacy and education; acts as the repository of Erickson’s personal archive; builds, cares for, and curates its own Erickson archive in partnership with other institutions; designs and implements interpretive programming; and acts as a resource and study centre on Erickson’s work and the modernist legacy.

Founding History

The Arthur Erickson Conservancy (AEC) cites its beginnings in August 2003, in discussions with Arthur Erickson and Cheryl Cooper, its Founder, as well as with other interested parties, including public institutions. Ms. Cooper has been engaged in preservation and stewardship efforts regarding Mr. Erickson’s work and legacy; in listing the first Erickson buildings on the municipal registers and on the National Historic Register, with Donald Luxton; in consulting on Statements of Significance for Erickson’s buildings and landscapes; in encouraging stewardship of public buildings such as the Museum of Anthropology and Robson Square; as writer and editor on Erickson’s works and on preservation issues; as the Erickson garden’s authoritative historian and the author of the Erickson Garden Conservation Plan; as the spearhead for the successful efforts to  ‘save’ the Evergreen building in Vancouver, together with the Vancouver Heritage Commission, on which she serves, as well as in collecting and inventorying materials, documenting the Erickson legacy, and assisting Mr. Erickson with his personal archive.  Mr. Erickson and Ms. Cooper realized that a complex, comprehensive, international entity, and most importantly, one authorized by the artist himself, an Arthur Erickson Conservancy, was imperative in order to achieve preservation and conservation goals, to design and implement interpretive mission-directed programs, to document the Erickson legacy, and in this much larger context, to attract and solicit funds over time, thus ensuring sustainability.  Advocacy, Education, and Conservation would be its mission.

Mr. Erickson has acknowledged Cheryl Cooper as Founder of the AEC and named her as his representative.

The UNA-Canada hosted a special dinner in honour of architect Arthur Erickson.  Arthur Erickson: A Gala Celebration of Canadian Architecture on September 10, 2006 at the Great Hall of the Law Courts, organized to coincide with the closing day of the Arthur Erickson: Critical Works exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery.  With Cheryl Cooper as coordinator, the Arthur Erickson Conservancy partnered with the UNAC on this event.  This Gala Celebration was also the first major public event for the Arthur Erickson Conservancy.

The First Directors and Founding Advisors of the Arthur Erickson Conservancy have strong connections with Mr. Erickson’s work as clients, patrons, fellow architects, former students, colleagues, historians and heritage consultants.  Arthur Erickson has approved the appointment of the First Directors. These are: James Cheng, Architect; Cheryl Cooper, Arts Consultant; Hugo Eppich, Businessman; Donald Luxton, Heritage Consultant; Nick Milkovich, Architect.

The AEC was incorporated in 2006 and celebrated that event in its inaugural meeting on January 12, 2007. 
The AEC can be reached through Cheryl Cooper at 604 224-4650 or info@arthurericksonconservancy.com.