FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KLEINBURG, Ontario – The Board of Trustees of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection is pleased to announce that Mr. Ian A. C. Dejardin has been appointed as its new Executive Director, beginning April 2017. Ian joins the McMichael from the renowned Dulwich Picture Gallery in London, England, where he served as its Chief Executive since 2005.
“Ian is a globally recognized leader in historical art with a passion for Canada and Canadian art,” said Mr. Andrew W. Dunn, Acting Chair of the Board of Trustees. “During his leadership at the Dulwich Picture Gallery, he coordinated a succession of record-breaking shows and more than doubled annual attendance at the gallery,” he added. Similar to the McMichael, the Dulwich Picture Gallery is located outside of the city centre.
Mr. Dejardin was the driving force behind the critically acclaimed Painting Canada exhibition at the Dulwich Picture Gallery, showcasing Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven. That exhibition began in 2011 and moved to Norway at the National Museum of Art, Architecture, and Design in Oslo. Subsequently the exhibition travelled to the Groninger Museum in the Netherlands before returning to the McMichael and finishing there in early 2013.
Driven by a mission to interpret and promote Canadian art, the McMichael is now, more than ever, strongly-positioned to bring The Art of Canada* to the world stage. The Collection is actively exploring and planning exhibitions of outstanding Canadian and international artists, with an intention to loan these exhibitions within Canada and abroad.
“I have personally experienced the global interest and passion for Canadian art and I am tremendously honoured and excited to join the world-class team at the McMichael,” said Mr. Dejardin. “My experience as the Sackler Director, and previously Curator, of Dulwich Picture Gallery was highly rewarding for me professionally and personally. I am confident that my experience there will support me well as we work together to deliver on the ambitious plans for the McMichael and The Art of Canada*,” he added.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees and Members of the McMichael Foundation, I would like to thank the search committee members for their time and insight. We would also acknowledge and thank Ms. Nathalie Mercure who, over the last 10 months has served as Interim Executive Director and will continue to do so until Mr. Dejardin is in place. Her passion for the vision of the McMichael, her collaborative spirit and professionalism will leave a permanent impression here,” added Mr. Dunn.
*The Art of Canada is an official mark of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection.
About the McMichael Canadian Art Collection
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is an agency of the Government of Ontario and acknowledges the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and the McMichael Canadian Art Foundation. It is the foremost venue in the country showcasing the Group of Seven and their contemporaries. In addition to touring exhibitions, its permanent collection consists of over 6,000 artworks by Canadian artists, including paintings by the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, as well as First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists. The gallery is located on 100 acres of northern landscape and hiking trails at 10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg, north of Major Mackenzie Drive in the City of Vaughan. For more information: mcmichael.com.
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For further information, contact:
Nathalie Mercure
Interim Executive Director
McMichael Canadian Art Collection
905.893.1121 ext. 2245
nmercure@mcmichael.com
Read an interview with Ian Dejardin in Canadian Art, and articles about the new hire in theToronto Star and the Globe and Mail.