The general director and chief curator of the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art, John Zeppetelli, announced to his team on Tuesday that he would leave his position in 2024.
John Zeppetelli, who has headed the MAC for more than 10 years, made this announcement in the presence of his team, the museum announced on the Facebook network.
“For more than 10 years, John has put his all-consuming passion for art, his great love of artists and his remarkable audacity at the service of the institution. Thanks to him, the MAC presented extraordinary exhibitions, notably Teresa Margolles: Mundos And Leonard Cohen: A Breach in All Things. More recently, the MAC received Contagion of Terror (Terror Contagion) from the London research collective Forensic Architecture, in collaboration with the famous documentary filmmaker Laura Poitras. »
The MAC team continues its publication by also mentioning the current exhibitions of Pussy Riot and Jeremy Shaw.
He also ensured that art was more accessible through a multitude of educational activities, intended for varied audiences, and contributed to the enrichment of the Museum’s collection, by acquiring remarkable works. More recently, he launched the ambitious architectural transformation project of the Museum. We thank John for his remarkable contribution to the history of the MAC.
The MAC team, in a Facebook publication
In his note announcing his departure, John Zeppetelli indicated that he was leaving his position “to explore new possibilities.”
“I am convinced that the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art will continue to prosper and evolve under its new leadership, supported by an exceptional and dedicated board of directors. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the dedicated and motivated staff, brilliant artists and dynamic community who transformed almost every moment spent at the museum into something extraordinary. Together, we have cultivated a space that not only stimulates and delights, but also challenges and confronts – a space grounded in the complexities of the world. »
Transformation of the museum
John Zeppetelli will therefore not see the transformation work of the MAC carried out under his direction, despite plans in this direction, which have been taking shape since 2014. The latest ones were carried out by the architectural firms Saucier+Perrotte and GLCRM Architectes in 2017, but the budget for their implementation was constantly revised upwards, in particular because of overheating in the construction sector.
This year, both levels of government, federal and provincial, increased their participation, increasing the budget from $44 million in 2018 to $116.5 million. A call for tenders is underway. But despite this imposing sum, The Press revealed last September that according to The construction program, the surface area of its showrooms would only increase by 28%.
The MAC board of directors, led by businessman Alexandre Taillefer during almost the entire mandate of John Zeppetelli, has been chaired by Claudie Imbleau-Chagnon since the summer of 2022. The appointment Mme Imbleau-Chagnon, who has been associated with the Blakes law firm since last July, was supposed to facilitate or even accelerate the completion of the museum’s transformation work.
The MAC moved to commercial premises in Place Ville Marie in 2021, condemning most of its permanent collection to the current building. If work begins next spring, the museum could reopen at the end of 2026.