MONTREAL/November 3, 2002—
MONTREAL/November 3, 2002 ñ At a special viewing of the commemorative exhibition, ìThe Best Kept Secret in Montrealî, Concordia University Rector, Frederick Lowy, surprised guests by announcing an investment of $2 million towards the creation of the Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery Tenth Anniversary Endowments Fund. This new Fund will ensure that the Gallery grows at a pace befitting its role as the leading university museum dedicated to Canadian art.
Of the $2 million, half has been raised by the Rector's Cabinet through the combined efforts of The Max & Iris Stern Museums Legacy, Abe & Harriet Gold and the Ellen Gallery's Board. The second million dollars is a match made possible by the Concordia University Foundation. Revenue from the Fund will allow the Gallery to expand its mission and augment its staff.
The current combined position of Director/Curator will be replaced by two new appointments: That of a Director who will develop and implement the overall vision for the Gallery and that of the Max Stern Curator of Canadian Art - the first of its kind at a university ñ who will bring exhibition programming and research to new heights. The Fund will also create a third position for an Art Education Coordinator, who will expand on the established teaching links within Concordia and out to the public.
Concordia is equally committed to the Gallery as a centre for student involvement. To the Ann Duncan Award for the Visual Arts, the Endowments Fund proudly adds The Bruno J. Pateras Graduate Award in Arts Administration, which will provide a gallery internship in the John Molson School of Business. We look forward to the eventual creation of Gallery partnerships with all of the faculties.
The Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery Tenth Anniversary Endowments Fund will allow the Gallery to embark on a number of new initiatives, thereby assuring the advancement of its role as the leading university art gallery dedicated exclusively to the research, collection and interpretation of Canadian art. This will formally launch the Ellen Gallery into a new era, allowing it to become even more accessible to the Concordia, Montreal, Quebec and Canadian communities.
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