Creation of the Jade Raymond Fund in support of contemporary art

A generous gift from entrepreneur and philanthropist Jade Raymond is bringing new momentum to The Museum Transforms Lives, the MMFA’s 2023–2028 fundraising campaign.

Founder of Haven Studios and President of Eververt Inc, Raymond has built her career at the intersection of technology and creativity. She is also a passionate collector and a committed champion of contemporary art. “Artists working today help us make sense of a world in motion. Their work captures the questions, tensions, beauty, and complexity of our time.” Her foundation, the Jade Raymond Foundation, supports human creativity in the age of accelerating technology.

This gift of $500,000 will be used to create an endowment fund called the Jade Raymond Fund, which will support contemporary art at the Museum by various means, including the acquisition of contemporary works, the organization of exhibits dedicated to the art of today and other projects aimed at promoting contemporary art in the MMFA’s collection as well as its programming.

This endowment fund is also perfectly aligned with the Museum’s long-term objectives by providing ongoing support for the acquisition, conservation and exhibition of contemporary artworks within the institution.

“We are living through a moment of accelerated technological change, where culture is increasingly shaped by algorithms,” says Jade Raymond. “That makes human creativity more essential, not less.”

“For me, supporting the arts is about safeguarding original thought – the voices, perspectives and emotional truths that help society evolve. Through this gift, I am supporting both an important Montreal institution and the young contemporary artists whose work deserves to be seen, collected and remembered.”

“The MMFA is one of Montreal’s great cultural archives. I want to help ensure that it continues to collect the art of our era — not only the art history we have inherited, but the art history being made now.”

“This remarkable support will enable us to continue to shine a light on an important part of our collection and to attract a broader range of audiences,” points out Stéphane Aquin, The Rossy Foundation Director of the MMFA. “All of our teams join with me in thanking Jade for this visionary donation.”

“We are deeply grateful for this exceptionally generous donation,” concludes Jo-Anne Duchesne, Director General of the MMFA Foundation. “This important donation is a testament to Jade’s confidence in the MMFA and reinforces the long-standing relationship she has built with our institution, notably as a member of the Acquisition Committee for International Art Before 1945.”