Annie Gérin reappointed as dean of Concordia’s Faculty of Fine Arts

Concordia’s Board of Governors has confirmed the reappointment of Annie Gérin as dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts. Her renewed term begins August 1, 2025.

Since her first mandate in 2020, Gérin has made a lasting impact on the faculty, championing innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and community engagement.

“Thanks to Annie’s vision and leadership, the Faculty of Fine Arts has strengthened its position as a global leader in arts education, consistently ranking among the world’s top art and design schools,” says Anne Whitelaw, provost and vice-president, academic.

“It is not only one of North America’s largest and most distinguished fine arts institutions, but also a powerful engine of cultural and social impact, where artists and scholars are shaping the society of tomorrow.

“Annie’s commitment to innovation, industry collaborations, and experiential learning has elevated the faculty’s impact locally and beyond, and I look forward to seeing it continue to thrive in the years to come,” she adds.

Gérin holds a PhD in the History of Art and Cultural Studies from the University of Leeds, a master’s in art history from York University and a bachelor’s in art history from the Université de Montréal. Before her initial appointment in 2020, she held roles at the University of Regina, the University of Ottawa and the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), where she served as interim dean of the Faculté des arts and associate dean of research and research-creation.

“I’m thrilled to continue supporting our students, faculty and staff and pushing the boundaries of creativity, learning and societal transformation through art,” says Gérin. “Concordia’s Faculty of Fine Arts is not only a vibrant hub of creativity, innovation and critical thought — it is one of North America’s most comprehensive arts education institutions, with unparalleled opportunities for artistic exploration. I look forward to building on our strong foundation for the next five years.”

Expanding hands-on experience and advancing sustainability

Under Gérin’s leadership, the Faculty of Fine Arts has launched numerous initiatives, developing a strategic plan and fostering sustainable practices. With a preliminary report mapping existing sustainable efforts already in hand, she is set to unveil a faculty-wide sustainability action plan in spring 2025.

Gérin also spearheaded the development of innovative tools and approaches to sustain the faculty’s activities and experiential learning, which faced significant challenges at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. The faculty equipped students with custom kits, enabling remote work and accelerating the shift toward more sustainable practices, all while ensuring safe access to studios and workshops.

Furthermore, the Art Volt platform, launched just before Gérin began her tenure in 2020, has flourished under her direction. Broadening its career-oriented programs and opportunities for recent alumni, the platform offers even more real-world experiences, paid opportunities (including art rental through its collection), and valuable industry connections to support Concordia’s emerging artists.

Her tenure has also led to the expansion of academic and curriculum offerings, including the development of microprograms designed for working professionals and candidates with non-traditional academic backgrounds. Between 2021 and 2023, the Faculty of Fine Arts launched Concordia’s first three microprograms — Screenwriting and Film Producing (taught in both French and English), Web Design and User Interface, and Fundamentals of Digital Filmmaking.

More recently. in January 2025, the Faculty and its Department of Art History introduced a new graduate microprogram and certificate in curatorial practices.

Gérin has also cultivated and solidified partnerships with key cultural institutions and the wider arts community in Montreal and across Quebec. Collaborations with industry leaders, major festivals such as Fantasia and the Festival International du Film sur l’Art, and organizations like the Musée d’art Contemporain de Montréal, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, MU, the National Film Board of Canada and Place des Arts have all provided invaluable opportunities for hands-on experience, knowledge sharing and collaboration.

A 'Next-Gen' vision for Fine Arts

Looking ahead to her renewed term, Gérin hopes to build on these initiatives while launching new ones to further enhance the Faculty’s reputation for excellence in fine arts education and research, both locally and globally.

“We have opportunities to engage with pressing issues such as climate change, social justice and technological innovation through the arts,” says Gérin. “We will continue to forge new paths, elevate the Faculty of Fine Arts and Concordia’s leadership in these areas and strengthen our ties with the arts and cultural communities.”

Explore your creative side in Concordia’s Faculty of Fine Arts.