Bill S-202: Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate

For the information of the arts community across Canada we are happy to report that on June 20^th, 2024, Bill S-202 (Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate) received Royal Assent and became a law of Canada. We have had a Poet Laureate for a number of years; with the passage of Bill S-202 we now have a similar position focused on the visual arts. Please take a look at the attached copy of Bill S-202 for the details respecting this exciting legislation.

The idea for a Visual Artist Laureate originated with Peter Gough, Artist, late of Liverpool, of Nova Scotia. In April, 20216, brought his idea to Senator Wilfred Moore, who introduced a Bill in the Senate in December, 2016. In the following years Senator Patricia Bovey, of Winnipeg, noted Canadian art curator, took on the sponsorship of this Bill. Through various deliberations in the House of Commons the Bill was eventually returned to the Senate in April, 2024. On June 20^th the Senate unanimously approved the Bill, thereby cementing Peter Gough’s wonderful legacy.