Museum Foundation President's Report


Mot du président de la Fondation du Musée


PROUD SUPPORTERS OF “YOUR” MUSEUM


Close to three years ago now, we decided to undertake the most ambitious fund-raising campaign in the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts’ history. Our goal was to raise a total of $100 million – $70 million in monetary donations and $30 million in gifts of works of art.

Even though this campaign will continue until 2012, we are already very encouraged by the results so far. Private donors and Quebec companies have eloquently demonstrated their pride in helping to provide the Museum with the means to carry out its plans. Many of them have enthusiastically taken advantage of the new opportunities for donating that were made available to them this year, and we would like to thank them for their great generosity. In this way, a number of people have “adopted” seats and pews in the new Bourgie Concert Hall, while others have shown their support for us by doing the same for the stained glass windows in this jewel of a building. Generous collectors have agreed to donate works as part of the 150th-anniversary campaign Great Works for a Great Museum; the value of the donated works to date totals over $50 million.

Business people and members of the general public have pledged to help the Museum continue to play an active role within Quebec as well as beyond its borders. Of course, this fund-raising initiative is not at an end and during the coming year, the last in the 150thanniversary campaign, we will have to intensify our efforts to finally reach our goals. I particularly wish to thank all those who have already made major contributions, including the Bourgie family (Claire and Marc Bourgie, Claude Bourgie Bovet and Pierre Bourgie), Michal and Renata Hornstein, the Governments of Canada and Quebec, the Estate of Ben Weider, Michel de la Chenelière, a heir of the Bloch-Bauer Family, Astral Broadcasting Group Inc., Hydro-Québec, Power Corporation of Canada, Andrée and Pierre H. Lessard, Anna and Joseph Mendel, the J. Armand Bombardier Foundation, the Macdonald Stewart Foundation, BCE Inc. and Bell Canada, Loto- Québec, National Bank of Canada, Reitmans (Canada) Limited, Société historique du lac St-Louis and the Volunteer Association of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, as well as all the other companies, foundations and individuals who have provided financial support for the Museum. I would also like to congratulate our indispensable volunteer canvassers, who have worked tirelessly to secure donations and make this campaign a success we can all take pride in.

Moreover, a resounding “thank you” goes to all of the Museum’s members, patrons of the President’s Circle and other donors who believe in our mission and in completing the many projects that show the importance of this institution to the development of Quebec. Indeed, the support of everyone is crucial.

In conclusion, I wish to extend my most profound thanks to Brian M. Levitt, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, for his active participation and extremely effective fundraising. I must also make mention of the outstanding work and exceptional devotion of Michelle Prévost, who for many years has been able to forge professional relationships and, indeed, friendships with many donors, for the greater benefit of all. I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the wonderful contribution and commitment of all the Museum’s employees, especially its Director, Nathalie Bondil.

On a final, personal note, I can only say how proud I am to be associated with such a prestigious institution.





Guy Savard
President of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Foundation