The Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC) and the Fondation du MAC are launching a collective movement and taking concrete steps to support the Québec Arts Community. This initiative comes as we witness with growing concern the increasingly precarious situation of visual artists in Québec and their collaborators as they face the economic consequences of the COVID-19 crisis.
Concrete Steps
The MAC has decided this year to devote its total acquisition budget (100%) to the purchase of works by artists living and working in Québec. By focusing the collection’s 2020 acquisition priorities in this way, the Museum wishes to send a positive message while providing concrete support to artists who have chosen to produce in Québec.
Furthermore, in light of the overwhelming needs in the Arts sector, the MAC and its Fondation have taken on the challenge of doubling the Museum’s annual acquisition budget of $300,000.
In order to reach this goal, the Fondation du MAC is launching a fundraising campaign aimed at the acquisition of works by artists living in Québec, for which it is soliciting the support and generosity of the Museum’s major partners, collectors, and the public.
Finally, in recognition of the urgency of the situation and the essential role of contemporary artists, the MAC is participating in the Foundation’s collective appeal by immediately increasing its acquisition budget by $50,000.
The MAC Collection’s Advisory Committee will meet as early as June, in order to quickly funnel much needed funds to working artists.
The MAC collection: the social heritage of all Québecers
The Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal collection is a public institution. With more than 8,000 works, its collection bears witness to contemporary social issues, and as such is a part of our heritage.
A collection that tells the story of our times
Born out of the vision of a community determined to exhibit and acquire the contemporary art of different eras, the collection must reflect the profound and sudden transformations that we are living through today. The events and challenges of our times are being pondered in artists’ studios, and the works that will result from these reflections must continue to reach the public.
Acquisition process and approach
The Museum’s approach to acquisition is guided by its Politique de gestion des collections (collection management policy) and follows the recommendations of the collection’s Advisory Committee. The Museum’s collection prioritizes new works by emerging artists, production by the most important Québec artists in terms of their impact and influence, and works by the artists in the Museum’s exhibition program. The MAC collection includes works by Indigenous artists and artists from within Québec’s cultural diversity, and it respects gender parity.
