Making a Difference for Indigenous Artists @Skwachàys by Skwachàys Lodge-Hotel and Gallery

Campaign extended! Our deadline has passed but you can still help. ✕

Making a Difference for Indigenous Artists @Skwachàys

Gallery (13)

$500 raised

1% of $35k goal

1 contributor

2 Years running

Contribute

By Skwachàys Lodge-Hotel and Gallery

Verified organization Keep it all Vancouver, CA Report

Skwachàys Lodge is a social enterprise from Vancouver, Canada, that combines exceptional hospitality amongst 18 one-of-a-kind guest suites with a street-level Indigenous Fair Trade Gallery. Operated by Vancouver Native Housing Society (VNHS), a non-profit organization focused on providing housing for low-income Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Vancouver, we are proud to be Canada's First Indigenous Arts and Culture Hotel and host our renowned Artist in Residence Program, the program you can help keep with your donation.

Opened in 2012, our facility has been the recipient of many awards, kudos and accolades from travel agencies such as Booking.com, TripAdvisor and Expedia, as well as major travel magazines and International newspapers and publications. Our highest tribute occurred when Time Magazine declared us:

"One of the One Hundred Greatest Places in the World in 2018".

Like many other businesses, the pandemic has had a devastating financial effect on us. The Hotel & Gallery provides deep funding for 24 Indigenous artists' live/work studios as part of its Artist in Residence program that includes:

Professional development;
Peer mentoring;
Shared work and design spaces;
Representation in the Fair Trade Gallery and licensing partnerships;

The housing subsidy for the 24 Artists in Residence is over $200,000/year and is funded entirely through the profits generated by the Hotel and Gallery. If we cannot continue to achieve that goal, two things will happen for sure: the Hotel & Gallery will shut down and the Artist in Residence program will end.

One of the measures we are taking to avoid that outcome before international borders re-open and people begin to travel again is to provide a Crowdfunding Campaign with six different Contribution Amounts that offers you the opportunity to make a difference and help us keep our Indigenous Artist in Residence Program.

We at Skwachàys Lodge would like to thank you for taking the time to review our story and support our Skwachàys community. We wish you a happy and healthy upcoming holiday season. Please stay safe!

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Lakshmi McCall

Campaign Co-Chair & Hotel Manager