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As we grieve the loss of life within the Black community in Canada and the US in recent weeks and within history, The McGill Visual Arts Collection (VAC) recognizes that museums and collecting institutions have the power to both record and erase history.

With this reckoning, the VAC would like to acknowledge the inadequate representation of Black artists in our collection. We are committed and will be accountable for improving Black representation within McGill’s Visual Arts Collection.

As we move forward we want to work towards meaningful inclusion and change so that we are a collection which records and not erases Black history. Meaningful inclusion and change for our collection means the incorporation of Black contemporary and historical experience through the collection of artwork and inclusion of Black voices. As a publicly funded university McGill is committed to upholding the principles of, “academic freedom, integrity, responsibility, equity, and inclusiveness”. We hope to uphold this standard by adopting active measures to combat anti-Black racism.

For more information and resources please read our statement on inclusive collecting.