2018-2019 annuAl report THE MONTREAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS CITED AS MODEL EXAMPLE IN THE OECD AND ICOM’S INTERNATIONAL GUIDE “The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Council of Museums (ICOM) recognized the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts’ pioneering role in their guide launched in December 2018, Culture and Local Development: Maximising the Impact. Guide for Local Governments, Communities and Museums. This remarkable validation from two major international economic and cultural institutions will enable us to disseminate our message ever farther, so as to strengthen the role of culture and expand the definition of trailblazing museums, like the MMFA, that are fostering greater inclusion and wellness.” – Nathalie Bondil The Museum is cited in 5 of the 16 international case studies in the guide: a remarkable nod to our institution’s actions that stem from a humanist, innovative and inclusive vision. Below are a few excerpts from the publication that is available online at www.oedc.org: 1. Partnering for urban regeneration 3. Partnership for education: EducArt 5. Promoting inclusiveness, health and Regarding the MMFA’s involvement in creating the digital platform, Quebec, Canada well-being: A Manifesto for a Humanist Zone Éducation-Culture in 2016, in collaboration Launched in 2017 by the MMFA, EducArt gives Fine Arts Museum with Concordia University and the Ville de Montreal: secondary school teachers across the province access “As part of the Manifesto for a Humanist Fine “The project … has its roots in a common vision [of to an interdisciplinary approach to teaching the Arts Museum written by Nathalie Bondil,1 the the three institutions] to improve Montreal’s role as educational curriculum, based on the Museum’s MMFA has put forth a strong vision of the social a city of knowledge and culture. The project will … encyclopedic collection. This “digital platform role of culture and cultural institutions and has strengthen the local cultural identity by displaying designed in collaboration with high school teachers taken numerous actions aimed at promoting public art and the innovative transformation of … is also a database of innovative educational inclusiveness, health, and well-being. The MMFA’s urban infrastructure.” projects. … It allows students in remote areas art therapy programme takes a particularly to access more diverse educational and cultural innovative approach, which has earned global 2. Promoting inclusiveness and learning opportunities.” recognition. The established programmes are diversity: Montreal Museum of Fine aimed broadly at persons experiencing mental Arts supporting the Pride Festival 4. Museums and criminal rehabilitation: health disorders, autism, eating disorders, and learning and behavioural difficulties, and also Supporting the Montréal Pride Festival since the experience of Louvre, France, and extends to socially excluded and marginalised 2015, the MMFA “organises exclusive visits to Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Canada individuals. Activities are quite diverse ranging the collections and exhibitions for festivalgoers The MMFA “has a program in criminal from: using art to improve self-image, hosting and takes part in the closing parade with its own rehabilitation where they collaborate with the arts workshops to assist those with speech and float and volunteer involvement. These actions Centre for Services in Restorative Justice to facilitate sensory disorders and helping immigrants to settle are all part of the Museum’s policy to promote a monthly art therapy workshop for restorative by illustrating their own life stories through art. The inclusiveness and diversity in all its forms whether justice. The Museum hosts the workshop led by MMFA partners with many specialised partners to that be cultural, sexual, ethnic or otherwise.” the MMFA’s full-time art therapist. Workshops are create these programmes and works with scientific free of charge and use art, by offering a space organisations and universities to perform research for sharing, as a catalyst for healing, finding in these areas. To facilitate these activities, in 2016, peace and mending broken social ties. They are the Museum inaugurated a purpose-built premises, aimed at facilitating the process of inclusion and and in 2017 established an Art and Health Advisory reintegration of offenders.” Committee of 16 experts to form policy in this area. In 2018, museum-visit prescriptions started to be administered by doctors as part of a new project between the Museum and the Canadian association of francophone doctors.” 1. Nathalie Bondil (ed.) “Manifesto for a Humanist Fine Arts Museum,” ◀ The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Michal and Renata Hornstein Alexander Calder (1898-1976), Calder #1 fabric, 1949. Pavilion for Peace, International Art and Education: Michel de la © 2020 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), Chenelière International Atelier for Education and Art Therapy New York / SOCAN, Montreal (Montreal: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 2016), p. 20-28. THE MMFA: A CULTURE STEEPED IN INNOVATION The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has wrapped up yet another The fiscal year ended with a small surplus. I’d like to thank the Audit successful year! After drawing 1,046,120 people in 2018-2019, it and Financial Administration Committee, chaired by Lise Croteau and once again exceeded the mark of one million visitors, ranking 2nd composed of Alain B. Auclair, Louis Bernard, Jessica Pathy and Yves Roy, in Canada, 15th in North America and 76th in the world in terms of as well as the Administration team for their exemplary professionalism. attendance.1 People flocked to the major exhibitions From Africa to the Americas: Face-to-face Picasso, Past and Present, Alexander THE MMFA FOUNDATION HITS NEW HEIGHTS Calder: Radical Inventor and Thierry Mugler: Couturissime (an instant The Foundation earned the number one spot among arts and cultural hit). Thanks to the richness of their content and the unparalleled organizations on the Charity 100 list, Maclean’s annual ranking of quality of their design, these exhibitions won enthusiastic accolades Canadian charities. With a final grade of B+, the Museum Foundation both at home and abroad. was this year’s top-ranked cultural charity, ahead of the other 27 organ- izations in this category, which scored B or less. In addition, we embarked on several new initiatives this year, including the inauguration of the Cinéma du Musée in September 2018, an Adding to a banner year, the 2018 edition of the Museum Ball was agreement with the Avataq Cultural Institute, which will see the a huge success, setting a new record by raising $1.5 million in net Institute take up offices in the MMFA complex in 2021, and the highly proceeds. The Foundation’s revenues were up 11% compared with publicized launch of the world’s first Museum Prescriptions. Even fiscal year 2017-2018. JACQUES PARISIEN more impressive, the Museum earned high praise for its innovative Chair of the Board projects from the OECD and ICOM in their guide describing the impact Hats off to Danielle Champagne, Director General of the Foundation, of museums on local politics. The MMFA is cited in the guide for its and to the members of the Foundation’s Board, presided by Sylvie Photo © Manon Boyer best practices in five areas of social action: the creation of the Zone Demers. By ensuring the Museum’s sustainability, the Foundation is Éducation-Culture, its participation in the Montréal Pride parade, its a driving force whose remarkable efforts are infinitely appreciated. EducArt educational platform, its art therapy workshops, the estab- lishment of its Art and Health Committee and the implementation AN ENRICHED COLLECTION of the Museum Prescriptions program. THANKS TO GENEROUS DONORS Given our limited budget for new acquisitions, the Museum relies 108,000 LOYAL MEMBERS almost entirely on the generosity of collectors and donors to build its The MMFA has the distinction of being the museum with the highest collections. Among them, I would particularly like to thank Bruce Bailey membership in Canada, and it ranks fifth in North America in this for his dedicated commitment to our cause. On September 23, 2018, regard. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I’d like to express my he organized a Fête Champêtre in support of the MMFA at his country gratitude to our roughly 108,000 Members for their invaluable and estate north of Toronto. The gala event raised over $400,000 for our unwavering support – you are all proud examples of a committed acquisitions fund (mainly earmarked for post-1900 international art). and loyal community. I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the donors and patrons THE MMFA, AN IMPORTANT CULTURAL AMBASSADOR who helped enrich our collections in 2018-2019. Thanks to them, the FOR MONTREAL ON THE WORLD STAGE MMFA was able to acquire 400 new works this year. Following their presentations in Montreal, the Museum’s major exhib- itions travel to cities all over the world, where they continue to win THE MICHEL DE LA CHENELIÈRE INTERNATIONAL renown by virtue of their high calibre and spectacular design. For ATELIER FOR EDUCATION AND ART THERAPY example, Napoleon: Art and Court Life in the Imperial Palace embarked CAPTURING WORLDWIDE INTEREST on a multi-city tour that took it from the United States (the Virginia Invitations poured in from around the world for the MMFA to present Museum of Fine Arts, in Richmond, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum its innovative vision of education and art therapy. The world’s leading of Art, in Kansas City) to France (Château de Fontainebleau). For its museums are all curious to learn more about these new practices part, the exhibition Alexander Calder: Radical Inventor, presented in imagined and implemented by Nathalie Bondil. A number of cooper- Montreal in fall 2018, went on to enjoy a run at the National Gallery ation agreements have been reached with the likes of the Musée du of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia.