Sam Carter – Former Residency Coordinator
Canada
Bio
UPDATE: Sam Carter passed away in 2023.
Sam Carter, Professor Emeritus at Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver, combined art/science and culture/creativity to educate and entertain and to develop humane and beautiful cities.
Having studied art, design, landscape architecture, and design theory, Carter had an interdisciplinary academic and professional background that combined education, art, science, culture, public art, and design.
His earliest work began as Senior Designer in the Hall of Life at the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto, Ontario. “Hands-on” and “interactive” exhibition design pioneered by the Science Centre team resulted in exhibition design projects in many parts of the world. This significant professional experience resulted in exhibition designs and research commissions for museums, interpretative centres, special events, public art, city planning, and innovative educational projects in many parts of the world.
For over two decades Carter had focused much of his work on the Asia and Pacific regions. As the Creative Director, Carter designed exhibitions, special events, and interpretive centres including the United Nations Conference/World Wildlife Event (Stockholm) Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings, World Garden Exhibition-UN Habitat- Vancouver, Vancouver Papal Visit, Asia Development Bank Exhibition, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, the Asia Pacific Applied Arts Forum Exhibition (APAAF), Dragons and Dragon boats of the World Exhibition, Dolls of Japan Exhibition, Canadian Pavilion-Yokohama 89-World’s Fair, Treasury of Canadian Craft Exhibition, 64-94- Exhibition of Art and Design, Vancouver Island Freshwater Eco Centre, Canada/China Design/Applied Arts Exhibition, Korean Traditional Art and Craft Exhibition, 2000 Year of the Dragon Exhibition, “All About Blue” Exhibition, Sunken Treasures Exhibition-Brunei, Commonwealth Games-Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Vancouver 2010 Olympics: Beijing/Vancouver/London Young Artist-Olympic Themes Exhibition, Asia Pacific Folk Mask Exhibition-National Museum of Malaysia, Made in BC (British Columbia): Home-grown Design Exhibition, Malaysia-Canada Indigenous Communities Applied Arts Exhibition.
Carter was a Visiting Professor in Malaysia, China, USA, Russia, Vietnam, Korea, Mexico, Chile, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and across Canada. In latter years, he travelled as Visiting Professor Emeritus, Presenter and Creative Director/Consultant to numerous universities, conferences, non-profit and government organizations, and private-sector industries while he continued teaching online.
Central to Carter’s teaching were history, theory and application of drawing, colour, two- and three-dimensional form, visual communication, innovation, creative industries, Asia and Pacific regions, and global culture.
His legacy is far-reaching, and his impact on scores of art students will not soon be forgotten. Vancouver Biennale team members are grateful for the enthusiasm, energy, knowledge, and resourcefulness that he shared with so many of us in the International Artist Residency Program.