The Prize
The $100,000 Audain Prize for the Visual Arts is one of Canada’s highest honours in the arts. Awarded annually, the Audain Prize serves as a powerful testament to the global accomplishments of British Columbia’s artists. Established in 2004 by Michael Audain, this year’s award marks the culmination of more than two decades spent advancing his visionary mission of deepening a global appreciation for Canadian art.
Throughout its history, the Audain Prize has honoured some of British Columbia’s most influential artists including Rebecca Belmore, Dana Claxton, Ian Wallace, James Hart, Stan Douglas, Susan Point, Carole Itter, Paul Wong, Michael Morris, Fred Herzog, Takao Tanabe, Gathie Falk, Marian Penner Bancroft, Rodney Graham, Robert Davidson, Liz Magor, Jeff Wall, Gordon Smith, Eric Metcalfe, E.J. Hughes, and Ann Kipling. Selected by an independent committee, the annual Audain Prize is presented by the Audain Art Museum.
Our Founder – Michael Audain, OC, OBC
The Audain Prize for the Visual Arts was created as an initiative of the Audain Foundation under the leadership of its founder and chairman, Michael Audain. Widely known as a business leader, philanthropist and supporter of the visual arts, Michael Audain established the Audain Prize to honour the achievements of British Columbia’s senior artists.
Michael Audain was born in 1937 in Bournemouth, England. The Second World War had scattered his family and as a result, Michael Audain spent much of his childhood bouncing from one U.K. school to another. In 1946, together with his parents, Michael Audain moved to Canada.
Michael Audain studied French Civilization at the University of Lyon, France. He later attended the University of British Columbia where he earned a Bachelors of Arts in 1962, a Bachelors of Social Work in 1963, and a Masters in Social work in 1965. During his time at the University of British Columbia, he was an inspired social activist, organizing peace marches and founded UBC’s Nuclear Disarmament Club.
In the 1970s, Michael Audain established a reputation as one of Canada’s leading housing policy experts. He was appointed Special Advisor to the Minister of Housing. Working with the provincial government, Michael Audain played a pivotal role in increasing social and cooperative housing in B.C.
In 1980, Michael Audain entered the home construction industry by becoming a partner in Polygon Homes Ltd. He was appointed President in 1988 and Chairman in 1992.
Michael Audain is an avid supporter of the visual arts. Along with his wife Yoshiko Karasawa, the pair amassed a significant art collection which includes a large group of Northwest Coast First Nations masks and works by some of Canada’s most celebrated artists.
In 1997, Michael Audain created the Audain Foundation with the objective of supporting the visual arts in British Columbia. The Audain Foundation provides grants and endowments for capital projects and exhibitions at major public art galleries and educational institutions. Since its establishment, the Foundation has also expanded its scope to include wildlife conservation through the Grizzly Bear Foundation. In 1992, Michael Audain joined the Board of Trustees of the Vancouver Art Gallery, serving for years including two as chair. In 2005, he was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery of Canada and chaired the Board from 2009 to 2012.
In 2012, Michael Audain announced an agreement with the Resort Municipality of Whistler to build a museum. The 5,203 square meters art museum houses Michael Audain and Yoshiko Karasawa’s collection of British Columbia art and hosts special art exhibitions from Canada and around the world. The Audain Art Museum opened in March, 2016 and continues to welcome visitors year-round.
Michael Audain continues to be a patron of the arts, contributing to various initiatives and institutions. Most recently, he founded the Jean Paul Riopelle Foundation based in Montreal.
2025 Selection Committee
The Audain Prize for the Visual Arts is one of Canada’s most prestigious honours. This annual prize is awarded to a senior artist in recognition of their outstanding contributions to Canadian art. The recipient is selected by an independent committee through a closed nomination process.
The selection committee is comprised of volunteers from the visual arts community, whose purpose is to bring forward nominations, discuss and select a recipient for the annual Audain Prize Award. The committee consist of five members including Director or Chief Curators, and one past prize recipient.
Current Selection Committee
Director, Marianne and Edward Gibson Art Museum, Simon Fraser University
Executive Director, The Polygon Gallery
Executive Director and Chief Curator, Capture Photography Festival
Artist, 2022 Audain Prize Recipient