In Canada, there is no educational program that leads to specific professions related to the art market and most people in the sector have learned from first-hand experiences, through mentorship or by instinct. The theme of art market management is therefore essential to complement the skills acquired by professionals with specific training that addresses current issues. With this management component, we aim to train participants in aspects of management in areas such as public and media relations, marketing, team management and relations with artists.
Art Market Forum
November 16 – 20, 2020
The Art Market Forum is an event aiming to promote communal skill sharing and networking, while offering participants an opportunity to come together to discuss the challenges currently affecting our sector. The 2020 forum explored the themes of management and the digital shift. Through lectures, workshops and discussions, AGAC wishes to provide participants with the means to deal with new art market trends.
Accessible across Canada, the forum is intended for gallerists, staff working in private galleries, as well as cultural workers in any fields who are interested in the art market.
Program
Art Market Management
November 16 - noon
Workshop | How to increase the coverage given to visual arts in the media with better press relations?
In January 2020, the visual arts community lobbied the media to increase the amount of press coverage devoted to this discipline. The various key cultural players in this ecosystem, such as galleries, often receive recurring press coverage from a few main allies. However, these cultural enterprises wish to increase their notoriety by new means in order to contribute to the achievement of their business objectives. This training will allow participants to discover how to enhance their profile and how to interact with the media to generate richer and more abundant press coverage.
Presented by Olivier Lapierre, Communications, public relations and media relations consultant
Duration: 2h
Olivier Lapierre
Olivier has a degree in urban planning. He has been working in public participation, communications, public relations, and press relations in Montreal since 2007. He has been an employee, advisor or volunteer for more than 50 public, private and associative organizations in the Greater Montreal area, working on files related to municipal affairs, the environment, economic and commercial development, as well as tourism and cultural development. As a press attaché regularly sought out by organizations involved in cultural initiatives, he volunteers for the MAC Spring Committee for the Fondation du Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal.
November 17 - 11 am
Workshop | Respectful Workplaces in the Visual Arts Sector
This workshop will review issues surrounding respectful workplaces in the arts to be considered by employers in the visual arts sector. Jeanne LeSage will review legal compliance considerations, working with our sector’s values, the roles of boards/management/teams/artists – and how to do this with limited resources and capacity. The structure of the session will be a combination of content delivery and discussion.
Presented by Jeanne LeSage, Principal, LeSage Arts Management
Duration: 2h
Jeanne LeSage
Jeanne is an arts consultant with more than 28 years’ experience in the sector across Canada and abroad. She is a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL), holds an MBA in Management Consulting, and owns and operates LeSage Arts Management in Toronto with a focus on strategic human resources, organizational development, facilitation and strategy. Jeanne is the author of “Reporting and Investigation Mechanisms for Workplace Harassment in the Arts” for the Cultural Human Resources Council – which includes key recommendations for the sector.
November 17 - 1 pm
Workshop | Instagram and the Visual Arts
Linked to the visual by its nature, the Instagram platform has seen a culture of inspiration and entertainment develop over the years. Its vocation as a photo and video sharing service – through permanent and ephemeral content – makes it a must in the field of visual arts. However, the broadcasting and distribution of content on Instagram are increasingly modulated by advertising options, algorithms, influencers and recommendation functions. What are the methods and skills to be developed to make the most of the resources available to us? What sort of budget is necessary? Which targets and content formats?
This workshop will help you better understand Instagram’s ecosystem and the elements to be put in place to increase the impact of your presence on the platform.
Presented by Nellie Brière, Digital communications strategist
Duration: 2h
Nellie Brière
Columnist, strategist and speaker specialized in digital communications and social media, Nellie Brière develops strategies and offers training on these topics (INIS). Particularly experienced in the fields of culture, youth, citizen mobilization and information media, she supports organizations and projects that want to expand their reach and achieve their goals through digital and social networks. She has worked for ARTV, Radio-Canada, several unions. Self-employed since 2015, she has been working with several major national and international organizations. As an expert, she often makes interventions in the media and has participated in several productions on the subject.
November 20 - noon
Keynote Lecture | Ebony L. Haynes
Ebony L. Haynes has recently joined David Zwirner Gallery to lead and run a new space in Manhattan. During her lecture, in addition to reviewing her career in the art market, she will discuss her most recent projects.
This lecture is free and open to the general public. It will be held in English and live streamed on the AGAC’S Facebook page.
Duration: 1h30
Ebony L. Haynes
A graduate of the Ontario College of Art & Design University, Ebony L. Haynes is a New York-based Canadian author, curator and gallerist. Haynes worked as director of the Martos Gallery in Manhattan where her curatorial efforts combined historical investigations with contemporary art practice. Guest professor and critic at the Yale School of Art, Haynes launched the Black Art Sessionsthis summer, offering free classes to black students interested in learning more about the art market.
The Art Market in the Digital Era
The context of the last few months having pushed cultural players to turn to online tools, we will explore for a second year the art market in the digital age. This theme is a must, as changes in this field are rapid and constantly require the re-evaluation and updating of newly acquired skills. The lectures and workshops offered under this theme will allow participants to better understand and master tools and concepts such as data, search engines, Wikipedia or augmented and virtual realities.
November 16 - 3 pm
Lecture | Presentation of the Art+Feminism Project
This conference will present the Art+Feminism project, an intersectional feminist non-profit organization that directly addresses the lack of information on gender, feminism and the arts on the Internet, and more specifically the lack of inclusion within Wikipedia. Camille will also discuss Reading Together: Reliability and Multilingual Global Communities, a research project that deepens the important work of Art+Feminism by identifying barriers to the inclusion of relevant sources and equitable editorial resources on the Wikipedia platform.
Presented by Camille Larivée, Director of Programming, Aboriginal Curatorial Collective – ACC/CCA
Duration: 1h30
Camille Larivée
Camille Larivée is a street artist, independent curator, writer, and cultural worker based in Tiohtià:ke/Mooniyaang (Montréal, QC). They holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art History and a certificate in Feminist Studies from the University of Quebec in Montreal. Camille was the first Wikipedian-in-residency at Artexte Centre and is part of the advisory committee for the Reading Together: Reliability and Multilingual Global Communities organized by Art+Feminism.
November 16 - 5 pm
Discussion | Augmented and Virtual Reality: A New Business Model?
Over the past year, AGAC launched an augmented reality application that allows users to view artwork, at scale and in a realistic manner, on their own walls, from their phones. Launched last May, Collecting – the App. has been well received and has taken on a new dimension in the context of the pandemic. Indeed, from creation to marketing, the last few months have accelerated the digital shift in the art world. The aim of this discussion is to explore the different uses of augmented and virtual reality and, more broadly, the impact of new digital tools on the art market. Are we on the way to a new business model? Will augmented reality and virtual reality change the way we “consume” contemporary art?
This lecture is free and open to the general public. It will be held in French and live streamed on the AGAC’S Facebook page.
Moderated by Benjamin J. Allard, cultural worker and artist
Duration: 1h30
Benjamin J. Allard
Benjamin J. Allard is an artist, radio producer, and educator based in Tiohtià:ke (Montréal). From 2018 to 2020, he hosted radio atelier, the cultural workers’ radio show at CIBL. His texts were published by Inter magazine, The New Gallery, and QOQQOON. He completed a BA in Communication Studies (Concordia) and an MFA in Visual Arts (UBC).
Myriam Achard
Myriam Achard has nearly 25 years of experience in the field of culture and communications. She worked at Spectra where she was in charge of press relations for major Montreal events including the Jazz Festival, the Francofolies and Montréal en lumière. She also worked at the Berlin Festival and the Cannes Festival. As head of new media partnerships and public relations at Phi, she has worked alongside Phoebe Greenberg in the development and promotion of the Canadian and international avant-garde art scene for the past 14 years.
Samuel Arsenault-Brassard
Samuel Arsenault-Brassard is an artist who specializes in the conception of art and spaces in virtual and augmented reality, as well as virtual sculpture and speculative architecture. Recognized for his expertise in VR art, Samuel Arsenault-Brassard has conceptualized the architecture of the “Museum of Other Realities” and curated VR/AR art shows (ELLEPHANT gallery, 2019-2020 and Art Mûr, 2021).
Nicolas S. Roy
Nicolas S. Roy is the President and Executive Creative Director at Dpt. He has been producing and creating experiential projects for emerging platforms for over the last 15 years. Through a multidisciplinary practice that combines creation and technology, he has designed experiences for institutions such as the National Film Board of Canada, Google, Cirque du Soleil, Ubisoft, France Télévisions, Samsung and ARTE.
November 18 - 1 pm
Lecture | Data, a source of knowledge for its audiences and a lever for action
Are you taking advantage of data on your audiences? This conference will shed light on the knowledge about audiences that data and analytical tools can provide, but also on the resulting strategies to develop your customer base. First, we will present the types of data that different players in the art market can possess or acquire. We will then focus on usage data, i.e. data on audiences and their preferences, and the actions to be implemented according to its level of data maturity.
Presented by Éric Trépanier, Business Intelligence Director, Synapse C
Duration: 1h30
Éric Trépanier
Éric Trépanier is Director of Business Intelligence at Synapse C, whose mission is to promote and share expertise in data development in arts and culture in Quebec and Canada. Éric has a solid knowledge of consumer behaviors. He has carried out numerous mandates involving market studies, customer profiles, competitive intelligence and data enhancement, enabling organizations from various sectors to better define their positioning and strategy with respect to data.
November 19 - 11 am
Discussion | Innovative Digital Initiatives from AGAC Members
The pandemic has underscored the importance of our findings from the first edition of the Forum in 2019 which focused on innovation and the art market in the digital age. The events of the past several months have accelerated the implementation of these findings and forced cultural players to be more creative in their online offerings. Creation of audiovisual content, opting for virtual events, the development of new websites, etc. These are just some of the digital initiatives that four AGAC’s members will be presenting during this discussion. This exchange will be an opportunity for the gallery owners to revisit these projects and to give feedback based on multiple different experiences.
Moderated by Benjamin J. Allard, cultural worker and artist
Duration: 1h30
Benjamin J. Allard
Benjamin J. Allard is an artist, radio producer, and educator based in Tiohtià:ke (Montréal). From 2018 to 2020, he hosted radio atelier, the cultural workers’ radio show at CIBL. His texts were published by Inter magazine, The New Gallery, and QOQQOON. He completed a BA in Communication Studies (Concordia) and an MFA in Visual Arts (UBC).
Martin Blais
Martin Blais is a communications professional. His studies in journalism led him to work in the newsroom of the daily newspaper Le Devoir for several years, then in the areas of board game publishing and human resources. He joined Galerie Simon Blais, where his responsibilities include communications, in 2020.
Gareth Brown-Jowett
Gareth Brown-Jowett is the Co-owner and Co-director of Patel Brown Gallery, Toronto with over 15 years’ experience managing contemporary art spaces and curating exhibitions. Gareth Co-founded the /edition Art Book Fair that runs in partnership with Art Toronto, Canada’s largest International Art Fair. In addition to this, he currently and has previously served on numerous committees and boards throughout the city including The Museum of Contemporary Art, Toronto, The Power Plant, The Canadian Art Foundation, SNAP!, CANFAR, the Royal Ontario Museum, and C Magazine.
Erika Del Vecchio
Erika Del Vecchio is the project manager, sales consultant and registrar at Pierre-François Ouellette art contemporain. After working for four years at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montreal, she now sits on the Printemps du MAC as auction curator. She completed a bachelor’s degree in Art History (Concordia University), a minor in Literature (UQAM) and a DEC in Commerce.
Emily Robertson
Emily Robertson completed a double major in Art History and Studio Arts and earned her Master’s degree in Art History from Concordia University. After spending seven years as an Art Consultant and co-founding an urban art gallery in 2013, Emily returned to her love for contemporary art and opened Galerie Robertson Arès in July 2019 with François Arès. Having worked with major collectors and collections throughout Canada and the United States, Emily is actively involved in the Montreal art scene with extensive experience participating in international art fairs.
November 19 - 2 pm
Workshop | Is Your Cultural Content Searchable on the Web?
How to be understood by search engines and connect with your audiences? This workshop, based on demonstrations and explanations, proposes a concrete approach based on improving the structure of information on websites. Different aspects will be addressed, such as the importance of improving one’s website in the age of artificial intelligence, the promotion strategy (objectives, target audiences), the cultural offer (information structure and metadata), the key elements of a website and the points of contact with your audiences.
Presented by Josée Plamondon, Consultant, Digital information
Duration: 2h
Josée Plamondon
A librarian specializing in databases and holding an MBA, Josée Plamondon is a digital information consultant. She supports initiatives such as the production of structured data for websites and data sharing for market intelligence. She also conducts training courses to popularize metadata production and search engine functionality.
The Contemporary Art Galleries Association extends its sincere thanks to its partners, SODEC, Caisse de la Culture and Canadian Heritage, for their support.