Vancouver celebrates centenary of the birth of renowned late architect Arthur Erickson with a year of programming
The Erickson family and Arthur Erickson Foundation announce AE100, 12 months of films, exhibits, lectures, and more, launching July 7
Arthur Erickson.
ARTHUR ERICKSON’S FAMILY and the Arthur Erickson Foundation have announced a year’s worth of local and national programming in honour of the centenary of the late world-renowned architect’s birth.
Things kick off on July 7 with the AE100: Arthur Erickson Centennial Celebration at the Erickson-designed Robson Square from 1 to 6 p.m. The family-friendly afternoon features a welcome by Indigenous elder Cease Wyss, hands-on kids’ workshops with Petit Architect to build a model of the Museum of Anthropology, a display of Erickson houses built by LEGO artist Paul Hetherington, and live carving by Haida artist Clarence Mills. There will also be performances by Van-Okinawa Taiko drummers, opera singer Laura Widgett, Juno-nominated Latin band Mazacote, Mexican Dance Ensemble, and, in a copresentation with the Dance Centre, the Lorita Leung Dance Company.
From now through to the fall are guided tours of the Point Grey Erickson House and Garden on Thursdays and Sundays. Having lived in the home for more than 50 years, Erickson drew inspiration from the backyard oasis filled with rhododendrons, ferns, bamboo, and grasses, mixed in with pools of reflective water and giant Douglas fir and dogwood trees.
Running now until July 20 is A Refuge: Arthur Erickson, an exhibition at the West Vancouver Museum of Art, co-curated by Clinton Cuddington and Hilary Letwin. Presented by the West Vancouver Art Museum and the Arthur Erickson Foundation, the show explores Arthur Erickson in the context of his own home, providing an immersive look at the revered late architect's personal comforts. It also features photographs by Selwyn Pullan of Erickson in his home and garden, from the West Vancouver Art Museum collection.
As part of West Coast Modern Week, a panel discussion called Site | Light | Cadence | Space | Arthur Erickson Revisited takes place on July 10 from 7 to 9 pm at the Polygon Gallery. The sold-out event is a collaboration of the West Coast Modern League and West Vancouver Museum of Art.
Arthur Erickson, 1973.
From November 6 to 10 is the premiere of a new documentary about Erickson at Vancouver’s Architecture and Design Film Festival. Produced by Coast Modern producer Leah Mallen of All In Pictures, the film is directed by Danny Berish and Ryan Mah of Black Rhino Creative.
Throughout the fall and into the new year is a series of seven lectures to be given by architects, critics, and theorists in cities across in Canada to honour the centenary. Presented by the Arthur Erickson Foundation with the support of Canadian Heritage, the Canadian Centre for Architecture, and the organizations hosting the talks, the Arthur Erickson Centenary Lecture Series aims to raise awareness of Erickson’s work and legacy.
Finally, in late spring 2025 will be a new immersive exhibition about Erickson’s designs at Arthur Erickson Place (formerly the MacMillan Bloedel Building).
Erickson worked on more than 800 projects worldwide. The City of Vancouver declared June 14, 2024 as “Arthur Erickson Day”. 
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