The Nationwide Gallery of Canada (NGC) yesterday introduced that Jean-François Bélisle can be its new director and chief government officer, succeeding interim head Angela Cassie, who skilled a turbulent 12 months on the helm after taking on for the departed Sasha Suda, present director of the Philadelphia Museum of Artwork, final summer season. Bélisle assumes the place, a five-year time period as introduced by the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage, on 17 July.
Cassie’s departure from the NGC had been foreseen in an article in The Globe and Mail late final week, which stated that the change in management had been anticipated earlier, close to the tip of March. The place was first posted in January in line with a narrative in The Ottawa Citizen. The Globe story stated she’s going to return to Winnipeg, the place she beforehand took on quite a few senior roles on the Canadian Museum of Human Rights. Cassie’s time period on the NGC noticed dismissals of key personnel, together with chief curator Kitty Scott, senior curator of indigenous artwork Greg A. Hill, and director of conservation and technical analysis Stephen Grit.
Bélisle most lately served a seven-year stint as government director and chief curator of the Musée d’artwork de Joliette (MAJ), a metropolis situated about midway between Montreal and Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, simply north of the St. Lawrence River and maybe finest referred to as the birthplace of a former coach of hockey’s Montreal Canadiens. Bélisle oversaw programming of 16 to twenty short-term exhibitions annually, doubling attendance whereas constructing what the NGC characterised as “a harmonious and motivating workforce spirit”. He additionally prioritised outreach via a wide range of neighborhood initiatives. Earlier than that, starting within the mid Nineties, he labored in managerial positions in visible arts in Canada, the U.S., Europe and China.
Amongst Bélisle’s notable accomplishments was curating the primary version of the Papier Artwork Honest (now referred to as the Plural Up to date Artwork Honest) in 2007 in downtown Montréal and organizing the official visible arts illustration of Montréal on the Shanghai World Expo of 2010. He has additionally contributed essays and exhibition evaluations to each nationwide and worldwide publications.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Jean-François to the Gallery”, stated Françoise Lyon, chair of the Gallery’s board of trustees, on asserting his appointment. “He’s a confirmed chief with a capability to advance the Nationwide Gallery of Canada’s five-year roadmap, Rework Collectively. Jean-François’ art-focused tenure will proceed the transformation of the Gallery right into a nationwide museum that’s open to all Canadians, no matter their political, spiritual or cultural identities”.
“I imagine that artwork can change society, and sit up for collaborating with the Gallery’s employees, in addition to artists from throughout the nation, to make sure our establishment continues to be a unbelievable drive for good”, Bélisle stated on being named NGC director. “I additionally intend to interact with donours; and undertake consultations with the Gallery’s companions and different vital stakeholders, together with varied nationwide arts establishments and associations.”
“As well as, we are going to proceed to pursue collaborative nationwide initiatives to make sure the Gallery performs a number one position in Canadian visible arts from coast to coast to coast,” added Bélisle. “I firmly imagine that by working as one with museums, galleries and artwork collectives throughout the nation, collectively we are able to make a distinction. On the identical time, we are going to proceed to pursue worldwide initiatives to extend the presence of Canadian artists on the worldwide artwork scene”.
The collection of shakeups on the NGC are one thing of a departure from latest years, with Marc Mayer(2009–19), Pierre Théberge (1998–2008) and Shirley Thomson (1987–97) all serving 10-year stints as administrators. British-born Eric Brown, the gallery’s first director, presided for some three many years.
