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.

2023 Jury Members

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 panel of jurors through a closed nomination process.

The Jury 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 Jury consist of five members including Director or Chief Curators, and one past prize recipient.

Current Jury

Daina Augaitis
Chief Curator Emerita, Vancouver Art Gallery

Anthony Kiendl
CEO & Director, Vancouver Art Gallery

Melanie O’Brian
Acting Director & Curator, Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery

Reid Shier
Executive Director, The Polygon Gallery

Kiriko Watanabe
Gail and Stephen A. Jarislowsky Curator, Audain Art Museum