The Canada Council Art Bank Program is attempting to expose works by contemporary Canadian artists to a broader audience. And the country's art galleries and museums are feeling the benefit. The new program has been launched as part of the 30th anniversary of the Art Bank – owner of the world's largest collection of contemporary Canadian art – and the 45th anniversary of the Canada Council for the Arts. It has resulted in the presentation of a total of 36 works, collected by the Art Bank between 1970 and 1995, to various Canadian galleries and museums. Art Bank Director, Victoria Henry, said that the gifting program is aimed at finding new homes for the works, as well as to assist art galleries and museums in their efforts to acquire contemporary Canadian art. 'There are some fabulous works which we purchased a number of years ago that have not been selected by rental clients,' Henry commented. 'By donating these works to galleries and museums, they will receive the public exposure they deserve.' Art Bank is continuing discussion with both artists and galleries to determine other appropriate matches between artworks and institutions. Ideally, remarked Henry, the Art Bank would like to find new homes for some 150 works. For more information about the Canada Council for the Arts visit: www.canadacouncil.ca