Exhibit Robert Bateman at National Gallery
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to urge the National Gallery of Canada to organize an exhibition of Robert Bateman’s art.
Why we would sign this petition
- Acknowledges a widely recognized Canadian wildlife artist whose work, petitioners argue, contributes to Canadian culture and identity.
- Aligns with the National Gallery’s mandate to showcase artists who contribute significantly to Canadian culture, as the petition notes.
- An exhibition would increase public access to Bateman’s work and highlight conservation themes the petition links to his art.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Exhibition choices fall to the Gallery’s curators; asking the government to urge an exhibition could be viewed as undue influence on curatorial independence.
- The Gallery has limited exhibition space and resources; prioritizing one exhibition may displace other artists or programs.
- Others may reasonably prefer the Gallery prioritize diverse or underrepresented artists, or pursue alternative honours for Bateman outside a National Gallery show.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled Robert Bateman, age 96, a wildlife artist from Salt Spring Island, B.C., is renowned for his art and ecological advocacy; The mandate of the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa is to showcase artists who contribute significantly to Canadian culture and identity; and Despite being one of the most celebrated wildlife artists in the world, Mr. Bateman's works have never been exhibited at the National Gallery of Canada. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to urge the National Gallery of Canada to organize an exhibition of Robert Bateman's art.
Government response
No government response is available yet.