CONTENTS 4 Vision 5 Mission 6 Director/CEO & Chief Curator’s Report 8 Message from the Chair 10 Curatorial Report 14 Beaverbrook Campaign Report 23 Exhibitions 26 Programs & Events 30 Gallery Attendance: visitors, programs, and special events 32 Our Publications 34 Our Collection 35 Our Board, Staff, and Volunteers 38 Our Members 40 Our Donors 42 Financial Snapshot Vision Mission Director/CEO & Chief Curator’s Report Message from the Chair Curatorial Report Beaverbrook Campaign Report Exhibitions Programs & Events Gallery Attendance: visitors, programs, and special events Our Publications Our Collection Our Board, Staff, and Volunteers Our Members Our Donors Financial Snapshot VISION THE BEAVERBROOK ART GALLERY ENRICHES LIFE THROUGH ART. MISSION The Beaverbrook Art Gallery As the Art Gallery of New brings art and community together Brunswick, the Beaverbrook Art in a dynamic cultural environment Gallery will: dedicated to the highest standards in exhibitions, programming, education and stewardship. Embrace and advance the province’s two official language communities, its First Nations Peoples and its diverse social, economic and cultural fabric; Maintain artistic excellence in the care, research and development of the Gallery’s widely recognized collections; Present engaging and stimulating exhibi- tions and programs to encourage full ap- preciation of the visual arts; Partner to meet its goals, with the govern- ments of New Brunswick and Canada, the general public, the private sector, cultural and educational institutions, artists and other members of the artistic community. Conduct its stewardship of the affairs of the Gallery in a financially sustainable manner. Serve as an advocate for the arts and pro- mote art education and visual literacy © The Beaverbrook Art Gallery, 2016 Published by the Beaverbrook Art Gallery Inspire cultural self-esteem and enjoy- Editor: Terry Graff Photography: Gallery Staff and others ment for all New Brunswickers. Design: Kerry Lawlor 2015 ANNUAL REPORT DIRECTOR/CEO & CHIEF CURATOR’S REPORT The Year in Review 2015 was an especially notewor- their generosity and leadership, and vice versa, and the Gallery thy year for the Beaverbrook Art and our many other friends and was privileged to receive more Gallery. With the decision to supporters for their valued contri- than 1,000 important new gifts move forward with the expansion butions to date. By the year’s end, of art from artists and collectors and renovation of the Gallery, having realized over $24 million from across the country, an an official public announcement towards our campaign goal of astonishing achievement that and unveiling of the architectural $25 million for infrastructure, was due, in large part, to Jeffrey’s plans developed by MacKay- endowment and programs, our efforts. The past year’s signature Lyons Sweetapple Architects were goal was raised to $28 million and acquisition, Arriving Home, 2009, presented on May 20th followed the campaign continued under an important large-scale sculpture by the start of construction in the the able leadership of Bernard by the late American conceptual fall. This pivotal moment marked Riordon. artist Dennis Oppenheim was the beginning of a new chapter Aligned with our vision for installed in the Gallery’s TD for the Gallery aimed at signifi- expansion was the timely recruit- Sculpture Garden, providing cantly enhancing and expanding ment of Jeffrey Spalding to the a most fitting symbol for the our various programs, our many new position of Senior Curator reinvigoration of our permanent services to the community, and and the beginning of a more collection and current trajectory our public identity as the “art pro-active focus on developing as one of Canada’s foremost gallery of New Brunswick” and a and building the permanent collection-centred institutions. world-class landmark destination. collection, which is the very core Among the many highlights We thank all levels of govern- of our operation and program of the year was the return of ment for their investment in this direction. In 2015, Beaverbrook- our blockbuster exhibition important game-changing cultur- organized exhibitions continued Masterworks from the Beaverbrook al initiative, our lead donors for to feed our acquisitions program Art Gallery, which was presented 6 2015 ANNUAL REPORT over a four-month period before Elliott Community Leadership workover the course of the year. continuing again on its North through Business Award from The support of our many stake- American tour; the relaunch of the Fredericton Chamber of holders allowed us not simply to the Marion McCain Exhibition of Commerce, recognizing the keep our doors open to the public, Contemporary Atlantic Art in the Gallery’s many notable accom- but to fulfill our mandate in a form of the monumental exhi- plishments and strong community variety of compelling and innova- bition Writing Topography; the engagement. Further, not only did tive ways that continue to advance launch of Billie: Undercurrents in we achieve most of the goals out- the Beaverbrook Art Gallery as Atlantic Canadian Visual Culture, lined in our Three-Year Strategic New Brunswick’s leading visual a new visual arts journal for the Plan 2014-2016, we finished the arts institution. Atlantic region; and the launch fiscal year with a balanced budget As we make plans and prepare for of the Sheila Hugh Mackay for the second consecutive year. operating an expanded facility in Foundation Art Critic Residency 2015 also saw many improve- 2017, we are focused on making the Program. ments and long-overdue upgrades Beaverbrook Art Gallery relevant In 2015, the Gallery’s vibrant to our building, including the to all New Brunswickers regardless education program connected repair of the roof of the Marion of where they reside, to be inclusive the community with the Gallery McCain Atlantic Gallery, refur- and responsive to the province’s in myriad ways by providing bishment of the front steps and diverse communities, and to stimulating opportunities in street sign, reclamation of the full encourage more people to become art education for people of all space of the Canadian Gallery, actively engaged with the visual ages. Through docent-led tours upgraded security systems, and arts by participating in our many (English and French), special art the introduction of bigger and exciting programs and activities. classes, workshops, Art Camps, bolder outdoor banners. In closing, I would like to the AfterSchool Art Program, Along with securing spon- extend my sincere thanks and innovative multicultural and First sorships, recruiting new gallery gratitude to Chairman Allison Nations programs, artist and members, and the ongoing stew- McCain and the Board of curator talks, and much more, ardship of donors, the Gallery’s Governors, as well as to our the Gallery continues to make a development department initiated outstanding staff and volunteers, substantive contribution to art a new and successful fundraiser for lending their collective skills education in the province. called “Art: Fact or Fiction?”, and talents to all that we do to Indeed, 2015 was an excep- which involved community par- achieve excellence in the service tionally rewarding and positive ticipation and was directly linked to our community. year for the Gallery. We received to our Masterworks exhibition. an increase of $200,000 to our We are extremely grateful for the operating grant from the Province ongoing support of our members, of New Brunswick, bringing the volunteers, donors, corporate total annual contribution from partners, and municipal, provin- the provincial government to cial and federal governments, and Terry Graff $775,000. We were also honoured of course the many visual artists DIRECTOR/CEO & to receive the Matthews McCrea with whom we had the pleasure to CHIEF CURATOR 7 2015 ANNUAL REPORT MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR On behalf of the Board of of these monumental exhibitions involvement and support and Governors of the Beaverbrook Art received enthusiastic responses to Director Emeritus Bernard Gallery, I am pleased to present from the public, and have played Riordon for his guidance of our the Annual Report for the fiscal a significant role in promoting the capital campaign. Without these year ending December 31, 2015. Gallery’s identity and standard of individuals the Gallery could not In 2015, the Gallery fulfilled excellence. be successful. its mission of “enriching life In 2015, the Gallery moved Since the opening of the Gallery through art” by bringing people forward with a major expansion in 1959, thousands of people, and art together through a wide project and a $25M capital cam- young and old, have enjoyed its range of engaging exhibitions, paign aimed at achieving three many programs and services. The public programs and community goals: a new pavilion with addi- Gallery continues to be a nation- outreach. We met our primary tional state-of-the art exhibition ally respected institution and a goals and objectives, successfully galleries and public engagement wonderful representative for New completing our Three-Year spaces; increased financial Brunswick. Strategic Plan 2014-2016 while support for programming; and As the Gallery’s revitalization maintaining careful management increased endowment funds and expansion takes shape, build- of limited resources to achieve a for operations. We gratefully ing on the legacy of our founder, balanced budget. We are thankful acknowledge and thank all levels Lord Beaverbrook, we can all look to the Province