Annual Report 05/06 The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Conserving for All to Share The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, true to its vocation of acquiring and promoting the work of Canadian and international artists past and present, has a mission to attract the broadest and most heterogeneous public possible, and to provide that public with first-hand access to a universal artistic heritage. Annual Report 05/06 Cover: The Montreal Museum Michael Snow of Fine Arts Four Grey Panels and Four Figures From the series “Walking Woman”, 1963 Purchase, The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts’ /03 President’s Report Volunteer Association Fund and /07 Director’s Report Horsley and Annie Townsend Bequest 2005.97.1-4 /12 Volunteers’ Reports /13 Officers and Board of Trustees /14 Committees /15 Exhibition Calendar /16 Acquisitions /36 Auditors’ Report and Financial Statements The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Foundation /51 President’s Report /53 Officers, Trustees and Committees /54 Auditors’ Report and Financial Statements /60 Fund-raising /69 Sponsors /70 Museum Staff The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts 02/03 President’s Report As I study the results and projects such as the acquisition Museum could again become a the high quality of our services. performance of the Montreal of the Erskine and American flagship for the arts in Montreal. But the facts must be faced: Museum of Fine Arts in the Church and its conversion to a I am delighted to be able inventiveness has its limits, and year 2005-2006, the word that Pavilion of Canadian Art and the to report that, overall, the the financial constraints under comes to mind is “paradox.” It is eventual expansion southward Montreal Museum of Fine Arts which we labour constitute a truly paradoxical that, despite of the Jean-Noël Desmarais still stands in a class of its own; severe handicap on our ambi- the fact that we have had our Pavilion ought to be not only nevertheless, year after year tions for the future. second best year in terms of encouraged but supported in a I am saddened by our ongoing Thanks to a remarkable attendance, and our best ever in concrete manner. The exhibition state of financial paralysis. In programme of superb tempo- terms of the number of members space currently available for this respect, I must acknowledge rary exhibitions, we welcomed and partnerships with major the display of our collection is the Quebec government’s addi- a total of 611,390 visitors to institutions both nationally and already inadequate and has been tional funding of $2 million to the galleries during the twelve- internationally, at the same for many years. It is unthinkable help us balance our operating month period ending on March time the Museum has been in a that we should be obliged to call budget and reduce the deficit 31, 2006. This result has only situation of paralyzing financial a halt to the enrichment of our accumulated in 2005-2006. But been surpassed once in the insecurity. collection because of a lack of this was just a one-time contri- history of the institution, in the It is equally paradoxical that, space. The expansion that we bution: the disturbing reality is year 2000-2001, when 626,610 while in eight years, thanks to the envisage would certainly permit that the slight surplus remaining people visited the Museum, Museum Foundation and donors, us to display many more works at the end of this fiscal year is 327,644 of them just to see we have acquired over ten thou- than at present, and furthermore, still insufficient to wipe out our the exhibition From Renoir to sand distinguished artworks, it would enable us to acquire new accumulated operating deficit Picasso: Masterpieces from the that this year’s acquisitions works with a view to judiciously of $1.6 million. We are back to Musée de l’Orangerie. Given are valued at over $8 million, enlarging each of our collections square one. The Museum is forced that there has been a worldwide compared to $1.5 million fifteen and hence to preserving more of to struggle year after year to drop in museum attendance, I am years ago, and that we are our collective artistic heritage. obtain the funding it needs in particularly delighted by these receiving ever more offers of With these new infrastructures, order to operate, perpetually results. significant artworks thanks to the Museum would be in a posi- juggling with a precarious finan- In drawing your attention to the tireless efforts of the whole tion to fulfil its role as a unique cial situation that undermines these achievements I must not Museum staff and in particular cultural landmark with renewed its ability to achieve its full fail to give full credit to our faith- the Curatorial and Development vigour, and to establish itself potential. For quite some time ful supporters, the Friends of the Departments, yet the search as the economic and artistic now, we have been performing Museum. We now have 44,172 for funding for the Museum’s force that it could and should this high-wire act in order to members – more than ever expansion projects has gotten be. I am convinced that, with the produce exhibitions of interna- before! Their strong attachment bogged down. It is clear that firm support of its partners, the tional calibre while maintaining to the Museum and the loyalty of an ever growing public encour- the Museum Foundation. Their volunteers. Their exemplary a profit. Given the growing age us to pursue our mission and sincere commitment and unwa- dedication and passionate number of benefit events in to develop even more exciting vering loyalty constitute further commitment not only help to Montreal, this is undoubtedly exhibitions and activities. proof of the inherent vitality of establish good relations with a most encouraging sign. I also salute the outstanding this institution. our visitors on a daily basis but Of course, it is obvious that work done by the Board of Trust- The support of our sponsors also guarantee the success of we could not possibly continue ees and the Museum’s numerous is, of course, vital. We have the our fund-raising events. I should to carry out our mandate without committees, who have used good fortune to be able to rely on also like to thank the many the ongoing collaboration of their expertise and networking funding from distinguished com- individuals whose contributions our government partners. Here contacts to help launch many panies like Sun Life Financial, ensured that this year’s Museum I must stress the support of institutional and educational which presented the exhibition Ball made a record profit, en- Quebec’s Ministère de la Culture projects. By building relation- Edwin Holgate in the summer abling the Volunteer Association et des Communications, which ships between the Museum and of 2005. Our thanks also go to to present us with a cheque for has responded to our appeals for various companies, foundations, Dynamic Mutual Funds and to our $830,000. These funds permit assistance in recent years. I am organizations and patrons, we devoted partner METRO; without us to present world-class exhibi- also grateful to Canadian Herit- acquire the resources to offer these sponsors the Montreal tions, to publish the catalogues age and its Museums Assistance a varied programme that helps presentation of the exhibition for which the Museum is famous Program, to the Conseil des arts make the Museum a leader in Landscape in Provence would and to acquire more works of de Montréal and the Canada its field. not have been possible. We are art for our collection. This year Council for the Arts, also major This year, we have had the also most grateful to Hydro- I want to stress the Volunteers’ a contributors. pleasure of welcoming two Québec, a long-time partner priori support for our expansion We have recently had the new members to the Board of and the proud sponsor of the project, since a portion of their good fortune to attract to our Trustees, the Honourable Francis exhibition Catherine the Great, donation will help finance the ranks Michel Lamoureux, the Fox and Huu Trung Nguyen. Our presented last spring. purchase of the Erskine and new Executive Director of the warmest thanks go to the retir- Many companies and foun- American Church, which will, Museum Foundation. The Foun- ing members, Louis Bernard, dations have demonstrated we hope, be converted into a dation’s role is a vital one for Rachel D. Sachs and Christine their support for the various Pavilion of Canadian Art. I must the Museum’s future, and I am Marchildon, who throughout activities of the Education and also congratulate the Volunteer confident that he will be success- their mandate have given us the Public Programmes Department, Association for having instituted ful in rising to this challenge. benefit of their managerial skills and we offer them our warmest a new fund-raising event de- And speaking of success, I am and their love of the visual arts. thanks. signed to attract new donors. In immeasurably grateful to Réal I should like to take this oppor- And here I must acknow- less than two years, the original Raymond, now embarking on his tunity to thank each and every ledge with deep gratitude the masked soirée known as “Eyes third year as President of the member of the Board and of tremendous work done by our Wide Open” is already showing Museum Foundation. With his 04/05 enthusiasm, his ready availabil- specialists have made signifi- museums and occupying a unique ity and his idealism, he projects cant contributions to the history position among the museums of a huge optimism about our of art.