Conference and Events

Cultural Forum Series

Of What Use is a National Gallery in Canada?

Date: September 23, 2010

Time: 4:30 pm - 6 pm

Location: University of Ottawa, Desmarais Building, 12th floor, Room 130

Established in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) has cemented itself as one of the country’s premier art galleries. Located in Ottawa, it is among the oldest of Canada's national cultural institutions, and houses a comprehensive collection of both historical and contemporary Canadian art. Today, the NGC seeks to make art accessible to all corners of the county and further educate the public on the visual arts. However, in the context of today’s society and technology, what role does the Gallery play? Marc Mayer, the director and CEO of the NGC will answer this question as he leads a discussion outlining the relevance of the Gallery and his vision for it as it continues to grow and develop. He will also touch on other matters such as ongoing and long-term projects at the NGC, the importance of contemporary art at the Gallery, the financial challenges it has faced and the concept of decentralization.

Speaker: Marc Mayer, director and CEO, National Gallery of Canada

Marc Mayer is the director and CEO of the National Gallery of Canada. Previously, he served as director of the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal (2005) and the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery in Toronto (1998), as well as deputy director of the Brooklyn Museum in New York (2001) and curator of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo (1994). Before embarking on  his  museum  career,   he was the head of visual arts for the Canadian Cultural Center in Paris, France, and acted as the Paris correspondent for Rizzoli’s The Journal of Art. Mayer holds an honours BA in Art History from McGill University. He is involved with several professional organizations and is currently chair of the public affairs committee for the Association of Art Museum Directors.