Last night we joined the Young Associates at the Vancouver Art Gallery for a behind the scenes tour of their Art REntals and Sales department. If you've always wanted to start an art collection but just don't have the means to do so then listen up. The Vancouver Art Rentals and Sales may be the solution for you.

The program was founded in 1952 by the Ladies Auxillary of the VAG and as only the second of its kind in North America, it was totally cutting edge. Members of the auxillary were each given $1000 to purchase art in Toronto for the program and the treasures were brought to their office on Georgia Street. The paintings were displayed on a table and each woman had to then go back and stand behind a line away from the artwork. When instructed, the women would make a mad dash for whichever piece they wanted to rent, and they would then take it home and enjoy the art for a month, after which the entire process started over again. This seems rather chaotic for such civilized members of the Ladies auxillary of the Vancouver ARt Gallery!

But don't worry, Donna Partridge, the manager of the program, has worked out the kinks and won't make you race for your rental!

The Art Rentals and Sales has something for everyone. With over 1000 works by 200 Canadian Artists, they have the largest selection of contemporary artwork for rent in British Columbia. Whether abstract or impressionist, photography or sculpture, the program has works in a wide range of media and styles to suit anyone's tastes.

So here's how it works. You show up at their office (located in the Vancouver Art Gallery) during gallery hours and pick a piece that you would love to live with. Leave them with your credit card details and you're on your way. Or, if you can't install the work yourself they'll do it for you for a small fee. Regardless, they will continue to bill your credit card monthly until you return the art. It's that simple!

Love the piece so much you just can't part with it? Buy it! Everything is for sale. And even better, the first three months of your rental will be deducted from the purchase price. What a deal!

So what's this going to cost you? Pieces rent anywhere from $10 - 350 per month depending on the value of the work. Yes, for a little as two cups of coffee you can afford to hang art on your wall.

The rental program isn't just for individuals. In fact, the majority of renters are from the film and tv industry, designers staging homes for sale or corporations who take advantage of art rentals as a write-off for office furnishings.

the Vancouver Art Rentals and Sales program is ideal for anyone on a budget, commitment phobes or those notorious for going on lavish shopping sprees for things they don't love.

To find out more about the Vancouver Art Rentals and Sales, visit their website
www.artrentalandsales.com