Beaverbrook expands Curatorial Team

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Ray Cronin (courtesy Beaverbrook Art Gallery)

The Beaverbrook Art Gallery has announced several new appointments on its curatorial team.

Ray Cronin has been named curator of Canadian art. An accomplished arts administrator, Cronin was the curator and then director and CEO of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. He is also the founding curator of the Sobey Art Award and the author of 14 books about Canadian art, as well as myriad catalogues and articles for galleries and publishers across Canada, including Galleries West. He holds a bachelor of fine arts degree from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, as well as a master of fine arts degree from the University of Windsor.

Cronin’s focus will include new presentations of the permanent collection, as well as producing solo and group exhibitions and traveling exhibitions. He will also work to acquire new art to expand the current collection.

“He will cast new light on the collections, illuminating different ways to appreciate the treasures we have at the gallery,” says Tom Smart, the Beaverbrook’s director and CEO. “Ray will add a great deal of strength to our exhibitions and programs dedicated to presenting and interpreting the art of Atlantic, Indigenous, Canadian and international artists and artworks.”

A Wolastoqiyik from Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), New Brunswick, Emma Hassencahl-Perley has been named the Beaverbrook’s new curator of Indigenous art. She has curated many Beaverbrook exhibitions, including the award-winning Wabanaki Modern: The Artistic Legacy of the 1960’s “Micmac Indian Craftsmen.”  The project included an exhibition and international tour, exhibition catalogue and a documentary film, exhibition. 

Dr. John Leroux will continue in his dual role as director of the Marion McCain Institute for Atlantic Canadian Art and manager of collections and exhibitions.

Long-time Beaverbrook contributor and visual artist Dawn Steeves has been named as the Beaverbrook’s new registrar. Her role will include managing and cataloguing the Beaverbrook’s art collection.

Steeves was the gallery’s artist in residence and her paintings were included in the 2022-2023 exhibition Capturing Salty Towers. She also worked to build the Beaverbrook’s online searchable database of the collection.

A curatorial associate will be announced soon.

Source: Beaverbrook Art Gallery