Skip to main content

CONCORDIA'S PUBLIC ART POLICY PROJECT

Overview of Concordia's public art policy project

Concordia has a new public art policy that will govern its public art collection and future art programming.

Discussions have been taking place within art institutions about the methods of acquisition, representation and decision-making processes, encouraged by The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the Black Lives Matter movement. Given this timely moment in the art world, Concordia is also examining the purpose and positioning of its current public art collection and future programming.

The Public Art Lead managed the development of Concordia’s public art policy with the assistance from consulting firm Communications MDR. Community consultations, the university’s Strategic Plan and the Indigenous Directions Action Plan informed the creation of the policy. With guidance from an Advisory Committee, the Public Art Lead will implement the newly created policy to direct the development of the collection and future programming.

Objectives

  • Improve and expand engagement and pedagogical opportunities with the collection for Concordia’s diverse communities, students, faculty, staff and the general public.
  • Provide a formal framework, including a mission statement and curatorial vision.
  • Provide direction for making appraisals and acquisition decisions, allocating resources and creating accountability.
  • Ensure best practices in caring for permanent works as well as programming ephemeral art.
  • Ensure inclusive best practices and take into consideration the university’s location on unceded Indigenous territories. Concordia’s Indigenous Directions Action Plan provides an important foundation in this regard.
  • Create Terms of Reference for an Advisory Committee.

 

Timeline and findings

Summer/early fall 2021

Best practices research
Spring 2022

Community consultation
Fall 2023

Delivery of policy
Spring 2025

Policy implementation

Podcast

A podcast hosted by 4th Space delves into the multiple aspects of a university public art collection and outlines the context and objectives that will frame Concordia’s public art policy project.

Territorial acknowledgement

Concordia University is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtià:ke/Montreal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.

Contact us

Sandra Margolian
Public Art Lead, Concordia University Library
s.margolian@concordia.ca

Back to top

© Concordia University