On Saturday, 18 November, Duncan Low died unexpectedly at his home in Oak Bay, BC. Born in Nottingham, England in 1956, he is survived by his partner Janet Scarfe, and his elder brother Steve.
Best known as the Executive Director of the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, Duncan inspired love and respect across an expansive community of artists and friends. His curatorial vision brought a world of brilliant theatre, dance, visual art, music, and hybrid art forms to Vancouver and nurtured and supported local talent to the international stage.
Having left school at 17, Duncan worked as an apprentice chef and started his theatre career as a scene shifter at the Cambridge Arts Theatre. Discovering his place in the theatre world, he became a stage manager for various companies, ultimately becoming company stage manager at Perth Theatre, where he met Janet in 1979. He went on to establish the Scottish International Children’s Festival in Edinburgh after being inspired by the Vancouver International Children’s Festival. Because of his work at the festival, he had his first contact with Canadian theatre companies, eventually leading to a move to Montreal in 1985. Duncan and Janet moved from Quebec to Vancouver, where he took up the challenge of running the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. For the next ten years, the Cultch, as it has affectionately become known, was his home away from home. Under his early guidance, the historic venue began a process that would eventually lead to its renovation and revitalization. His rhetorical flourishes detailing the building’s many shortfalls were hilarious, memorable, and, as it turned out, most effective.
While at the Cultch, he undertook a Master of Urban Studies degree, which he completed in 2010. He then pursued a Doctor of Philosophy from the School of Communications at Simon Fraser University, which he completed in 2016. In 2017, Duncan was awarded a Canadian Science Policy Fellowship at the BC Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills & Training, Research and Analysis Unit, happily bringing Duncan and Janet to Victoria. Following this fellowship, Duncan entered semi-retirement while teaching online courses at Thompson Rivers University, which he continued until his passing. Duncan was active in the community during this time, volunteering at Our Place and serving as a member of the Canadian College of Performing Arts Board of Directors.
Above all, Duncan will be remembered for his passionate engagement with whatever was capturing his attention at the time: his new-found love of playing the guitar, live performance, online chess, electoral reform, research, sailing, a really good sandwich: He immersed himself fully in his passions and shared his passions generously. He truly loved exposing friends (and strangers) to things that brought him joy, and no one who spoke with him left the conversation without learning something new. He mentored a generation of arts administrators, artists, and curators. His style, directness, ability to get to the bottom of an issue, and his passion will be sorely missed. The people whose lives he touched are better off for having known him, and the broader community is stronger for the leadership he demonstrated as an arts administrator and advocate.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
15 Responses
I do not know if this Will be transwitted to Janet bacause it has been years and I am learning now that he has passed away
All my love to you Janet, Duncan was of of the nicest person I have met in my life, true to himself and others.
I’m so sorry to hear about the passing of Duncan. Please pass my love and condolences on to Janet. ❤️
On my first day teaching guitar at UVic last year, I arrived early to set up. I had just started when a cheerful man with a UK accent walked in with a guitar, smiled at me and began to help. Within a few minutes, we were contemplating the writings of Glenn Gould on music and technology. By the time class had started, Duncan had convinced me that the work that Gould had started could in fact be continued with the integration of smart phones controlling EEG headsets which in turn could adjust parameters of media playback. “There’s a Phd in there somewhere”, he said with a grin. That was the first of many thought-provoking and uplifting before and after class exchanges. Although I wish I had gotten to know Duncan better, I am left with immense gratitude that our paths crossed, however briefly. And I will miss him.
I have many fond memories working with Duncan. He shared some hilarious stories on his experiences with theatre. Some of which I continue to share. I am grateful for the exceptional moments and performances experienced while working at the Cultch under his leadership.
My deepest condolences.
Duncan was a gentleman, a mentor and a friend. I was fortunate to interact with him as an academic at SFU and again, very recently, to seek his wisdom in relation to the preservation of the arts in Victoria. Duncan’s influence extended far beyond his official roles, as he knew how to bring the right people together for the common good. I am grateful for our final taco lunch together this past summer, and will never forget his genuine interest in what you had to say, along with his laugh and smile.