Kathleen S. Bartels
Toronto's MOCA has hired Kathleen Bartels, former director of the Vancouver Art Gallery, as its new leader, effective April 14.
Bartels left the Vancouver Art Gallery suddenly last year after 18 years in the top job, much of it spent raising funds for its $380-million new building.
MOCA is a far smaller institution with no permanent collection. It left Queen Street West and moved in 2018 into a larger space in the Automotive Building in a former industrial neighbourhood. Its two previous directors, Chantal Pontbriand and Heidi Reitmaier, each left after less that a year on the job.
Before coming to Canada, Bartels was assistant director at MOCA LA for a decade.
In announcing the hiring, MOCA noted that under Bartels' leadership, the VAG's annual operating budget rose from $6 million annually to $21 million. She led the initial phase of a capital campaign that raised $85 million from the private sector, including a $40 million gift from the Chan Family, as well as $50 million from the province.
“We are especially thankful that she is joining us now, as arts organizations across the world face the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Brad Keast, chair of MOCA's board of directors.
"Kathleen has led an organization through 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis, and other tumultuous times, and we are grateful to have her guidance and wealth of experience available to us as we navigate this new reality.”
Bartels said she is excited to be joining a strong staff and board with an exemplary commitment to contemporary art, community engagement, and institutional collaborations.
"While I recognize that these are challenging times, I am committed to leading the institution’s growth and long-term impact in the years to come, with my first and foremost priority being the well-being of MOCA staff and patrons.”
Source: MOCA, Toronto Globe and Mail