Annual Report 2008-2009 - National Gallery of Canada

Supporting Friends and Donors of the Gallery and the
Foundation; Gabor Szilasi: The Eloquence of the Everyday,
co-organized by the Musée d’art de Joliette and the CMCP,
highlighting one of Canada’s most significant and influential
bodies of photographic work; and Thomas Nozkowski, the largest
exhibition to date on this vital American abstract painter’s
work, and my first curatorial project here.
As director, I will work closely with staff to solidify and
strengthen the Gallery’s position as a leader in Canada and
abroad. As we embark on a period that may require some
difficult decisions, we count on the continued support of art
lovers and all who value culture. Many unknown factors will
require the Gallery to examine how to best deliver on its mandate,
but I am keen to face the challenges before us and have
great faith in our ability to excel despite them. We will continue
to create and offer excellent exhibitions, educational
programs and publications. We are here because art is intrinsic
to humanity, after all; that is never truer than during challenging
times.
In closing, to the Board of Trustees and the entire staff of
the National Gallery, including those working at the NGC
Foundation, and to our large and marvellous corps of volunteers,
my deeply felt thanks and admiration. Your energy, your
expertise and your daily efforts make possible what we do: the
realization of this dream, a place where hearts and minds are
fed and enriched each day.
We are grateful to the private sector for its ongoing generosity.
I must also extend profound thanks to the Department
of Canadian Heritage and all of our government partners for
their commitment to this essential institution, which remains
both beacon and bedrock in the Canadian cultural landscape.
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