MPM_Press release_new ExDir_18Feb2016

Press release For immediate release Appointment: Audrey Genois to Become New Executive Director of Le Mois de la Photo à Montréal Montreal, February 18, 2016 – The Board of Directors of Le Mois de la Photo à Montréal and its President, Jean-­‐François Bélisle, are pleased to announce the appointment of Audrey Genois to the position of Executive Director. She succeeds Katia Meir, who managed the 2015 edition of the event. Throughout a rigorous selection process, Ms. Genois has shown that she possesses high-­‐level management skills as well as a clear commitment to the values of the organization. Recognized for her leadership, she is also appreciated for the way she combines effectiveness and team spirit. Ms. Genois will take up her new position at the end of February 2016. Ms. Genois, who holds a M.A. in Museum Studies, has been very active in the contemporary art community. In her role as Associate Curator at the Galerie de l’UQAM, a position she has held since 2002, she has acquired solid experience in the field. Photo: Yann Pocreau Over the course of a 15-­‐year period, she coordinated over 60 exhibitions and a dozen national and international touring shows. Through her involvement in the world of publishing, she has edited and coordinated some 40 publications on contemporary art, in addition to managing the Collection d'œuvres d'art de l'UQAM. In particular, she curated the following exhibitions: Expansion: Les 40 ans de l’UQAM (with Louise Déry); Videozoom: Between the Images (presented in 12 venues in Canada and abroad, with the curatorial collective La Fabrique d’expositions, of which she is a member); and Motion (in conjunction with HEAD–Genève and La Fabrique d’expositions). In 2007, she served as Assistant Curator to Louise Déry, who curated the exhibition David Altmejd: The Index, at the Venice Biennale (Canadian Pavilion). She has been a member of the Board of Directors of MPM since 2015. Ms. Genois brings her extensive background and intimate knowledge of MPM to her pursuit of the organization’s mandate, which is to produce an outstanding photographic event aimed at promoting the diverse trends in contemporary image-­‐making to a large audience. She will also contribute to the philanthropic development of the biennial, and enhance its reputation on the international scene. “I am very excited to be joining the team of Le Mois de la Photo à Montréal. My in-­‐depth understanding of the organization, along with my management expertise and involvement in the world of the visual arts, will be very useful as I pursue the expansion of the MPM by creating new partnerships and making its presence more strongly felt in the community,” Ms. Genois said. The members of MPM’s Board of Directors are: Jean-­‐François Bélisle, President (Director of Arsenal Montréal); Pierre-­‐Luc Labbée, Vice-­‐President (Head of Recruitment at Framestore); Yann Pocreau, Treasurer (Artist); and Serge Clément, Secretary (Photographer). The 15th edition of Le Mois de la Photo à Montréal will take place in September 2017. The guest curator and the theme will be announced at the beginning of April, followed by a call for submissions by artists. About the event Le Mois de la Photo à Montréal (MPM) is a leading international biennial of contemporary photography. Since its beginnings in 1989, MPM has provided people with unique and exciting opportunities to discover the latest trends in photography, video and lens-­‐based art. For each edition, the guest curator selects roughly 30 artists who do work on a single theme, and present their pieces in 15 venues across Montreal. Our exhibitions are complemented by a major publication, an international colloquium, the Dazibao Prize and a portfolio review, as well as by a series of artists’ talks, video projections, workshops and guided tours for all ages. For more information moisdelaphoto.com – 30 – Media relations Marie-­‐Catherine Leroux T. 1-­‐514 390-­‐0383 [email protected] Le Mois de la Photo à Montréal gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Conseil des arts de Montréal.