Since its inception in 2002, PIA has cultivated key alliances among artists, gallerists, curators, educators, arts organizations, the business community and the public to develop vital and exciting contemporary art projects that promote Canadian art and artists on the national and international stage. As a perfect example of their generous work in support of Canadian contemporary artists, PIA announced that it would be giving the $25,000 prize to the National Gallery of Canada’s Venice Biennale fundraising committee in support of the 2013 Canadian artist representative, celebrated Toronto-based artist Shary Boyle.

Each guest at the gala received a limited edition artwork created specifically for the occasion by Ms. Boyle. By hosting the 2013 MOCCA Award gala at the Art Gallery of Ontario – the recipient of PIA’s first institutional gift – MOCCA pays tribute to the collaborative spirit of Partners in Art and their remarkable ten years of pioneering philanthropy.

Quotes:

• David Liss, Artistic Director and Curator, MOCCA:
  “As MOCCA itself has been a leader in developing strategic and wide-ranging partnerships and collaborations across Toronto and Canada, we feel an affinity with the spirit of partnership that defines Partners in Art. By donating their Award to MOCCA’s institutional partner, the National Gallery of Canada, in support of Shary Boyle in Venice, Partners in Art demonstrates here tonight, before our very eyes, the reciprocal and exponential power of partnership.”

• Gilles Ouellette, President and CEO, Private Client Group, BMO Financial Group – Presenting Sponsor of the MOCCA Award:
  “Since 2002, Partners in Art has been an important supporter of contemporary art in Canada – benefiting countless artists and cultural organizations in the process. Their generous support of Shary Boyle shows all of us yet again why the members of PIA are worthy recipients of the 2013 MOCCA Award.

• Yvonne Fleck and Mimi Joh, Co-Chairs, 2012-14, Partners in Art (PIA):
  “PIA has lots to celebrate during its tenth anniversary year and receiving and ‘re-gifting’ the MOCCA Award in Contemporary Art to Shary Boyle was especially important to the organization. As we look ahead to the next ten years, PIA plans to continue to build on its current work as well as undertake a greater role in advocacy, with a goal of influencing public policy around contemporary visual arts and supporting our cultural legacy both in Toronto and nationally.”

Sponsors:

• Presenting Sponsor: BMO Financial Group
• Silver Sponsors: AIMIA, McKinsey & Company, Scotiabank
• Media Sponsor, Newsprint: National Post
• Media Sponsor, Magazine: Toronto Life

Highlights/Key Facts:

Previous recipients of the MOCCA Award include:

• Michael Snow (2007)
• Matthew Teitelbaum, Michael and Sonja Koerner Director and CEO, Art Gallery of Ontario(2009)
• Edward Burtynsky (2011)

Links/URLs:

• For more information on the MOCCA Award: http://www.moccaaward.ca
• Read full text press release: http://www.moccaaward.ca/media-centre
• For more information on Partners in Art: http://www.partnersinart.ca
• View the MOCCA Award / PIA Videos on the MOCCA App or MOCCA’s Youtube Channel

About Partners in Art (PIA)
Founded in 2002, Partners in Art (PIA) is a volunteer-based, not-for-profit corporation of Toronto art supporters with an interest in promoting the visual arts in Canada in two ways: first, by partnering with established arts organizations on collaborative fund-raising projects; and secondly, by furthering members’ own understanding and knowledge of the visual arts through an active education program.The group cultivates alliances among artists, curators, educators, businesses, and the public to develop vital and exciting contemporary art projects that raise the awareness of Canadian art and artists nationally and internationally. In the past ten years, PIA has raised more than $1 million in sponsorship dollars. The group solicits sponsors to fund its activities, organizes fundraising events, and accepts donations from the public.

About MOCCA
The Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) was founded from the former Art Gallery of North York in 1999. In 2005, MOCCA relocated to the West Queen West Art + Design District in downtown Toronto, in the heart of one of North America’s most dynamic arts communities. Our facility is modest in scale, impressive in design, and functions effectively as a nucleus of energies for cultural production and exchange.

For ongoing news, please go to http://www.mocca.ca/media-centre

Media Contacts:

MOCCA
Fayiaz Chunara, Head, Communications and Marketing, 416.-395-7490, fchunara@mocca.ca

Partners in Art
Ethan Pigott, beSPEAK Communications, 416-558-2783, ethan@bespeakcommunications.com or

Eileen Tobey, beSPEAK Communications, 416-540-4047, eileen@bespeakcommunications.com

TORONTO, Ontario, October 17, 2012 – As the fourth recipient of The MOCCA Award, the volunteer organization Partners in Art (PIA) being recognized for 10 years of tirelessly championing contemporary art through meaningful collaborations with established art institutions, as well as educational initiatives aimed at raising its members’ awareness and understanding of contemporary art.

Presented by BMO Financial Group, The MOCCA Award will be given to Partners in Art – a group comprised of seventy-five highly dedicated, talented and engaged art supporters– at a gala event on the evening of April 13, 2013, to be held in Baillie Court at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Upon naming the recipient MOCCA noted that throughout its ten years, PIA has cultivated key alliances among artists, gallerists, curators, art institution directors, educators, the business community and the public, developing vital and exciting contemporary art projects that promote Canadian art and artists on the national and international stage. To support these efforts, Partners in Art has raised and distributed more than $800,000 over its ten-year history.

Donating significant funds and invaluable volunteer time, Partners in Art has collaborated with 14 partner organizations, including the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, the Art Gallery of Ontario, The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, the Canadian Art Foundation, the Ontario College of Art and Design University, The Institute for Contemporary Culture at the ROM and the Galerie de l’Université du Québec à Montréal among others.

Among its many recent achievements, PIA has contributed to exhibition and publication programs at MOCCA. PIA was also instrumental in launching the AGO’s first Artist-in-Residence Program, an initiative that occupies the purpose-built Weston Family Learning Centre (2011).

By hosting the 2013 MOCCA Award at the Art Gallery of Ontario – the recipient of PIA’s first institutional gift – MOCCA pays tribute to the collaborative spirit of Partners in Art and their remarkable ten years of pioneering philanthropy. Each guest at the event will receive a limited edition plate by celebrated Toronto-based artist Shary Boyle created specifically to commemorate the occasion.

Quotes:

• David Liss, Artistic Director and Curator, Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art:
  “The very name ‘Partners in Art’ embodies a spirit of active collaboration towards the creation of culture – an objective that is also at the core of the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art’s mandate and mission. The efforts of PIA have been key in supporting the success and advancement of MOCCA’s artistic and operational vision.”

• Gilles Ouellette, President and CEO, Private Client Group, BMO Financial Group – sponsor of the MOCCA Award:
  “PIA understands and promotes the necessary element of collaboration for the creation and support of modern art in Canada.  Its efforts have positively benefited countless artists and cultural organizations since 2002.  We all owe our gratitude to this important organization – a worthy recipient of the 2013 MOCCA Award.

• “Yvonne Fleck and Mimi Joh, Co-Chairs, 2012-14, Partners in Art (PIA)
  “On behalf of PIA we are honoured to receive this prestigious award from MOCCA. Indeed, to be in the same league as past MOCCA Award recipients is quite humbling and we are very thankful to all of you at MOCCA.We’re proud to say that since our beginning 10 years ago, PIA has helped change the contemporary Canadian art scene by forging a type of patron involvement that includes a collaboration of ideas and an active engagement with chosen institutions like MOCCA. We look forward to creating future collaborations in the years to come.”

Highlights/Key Facts:

• The biennial award was established by MOCCA in 2007 to honour a Canadian active in the field of visual arts for innovation, accomplishment or contribution over time, or for a specific project that has national or international significance.
• Michael Snow received the MOCCA Award 2007; Matthew Teitelbaum, Michael and Sonja Koerner Director, and CEO of the Art Gallery of Ontario received the MOCCA Award in 2009 and Edward Burtynsky received the award in 2011.
• BMO Financial Group has been sponsor of the Award since its inception.

About Partners in Art (PIA)
Partners in Art (PIA) is a volunteer-based, not-for-profit corporation of Toronto art supporters with an interest in promoting contemporary visual arts within Canada and internationally. For the past 10 years, PIA has cultivated alliances to develop vital and exciting art projects that raise the awareness of contemporary art and artists nationally and internationally.

This year, during its 10^th anniversary, PIA is proud to be the lead sponsor of the annual photography symposium at the new Ryerson Image Centre and a multifaceted, multimedia project at the Art Gallery of York University with artist Deanna Bowen.

About MOCCA
The Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) was founded from the former Art Gallery of North York in 1999. In 2005, MOCCA relocated to the West Queen West Art + Design District in downtown Toronto, in the heart of one of North America’s most dynamic arts communities. Our facility is modest in scale, impressive in design, and functions effectively as a nucleus of energies for cultural production and exchange.

RSS Feed for MOCCA feed://www.mocca.ca/feed/rss/­­
For ongoing news, please go to http://www.mocca.ca/media-centre

Media Contacts:
MOCCA
Fayiaz Chunara, Head, Communications and Marketing, 416.395-7490, fchunara@mocca.ca

Partners in Art
Ethan Pigott, beSPEAK Communications, (416) 558-2783, ethan@bespeakcommunications.com
or
Eileen Tobey, beSPEAK Communications, 416-540-4047, eileen@bespeakcommunications.com

EDWARD BURTYNSKY WINS PRESTIGIOUS PRIZE!!

Toronto, Ont., April 14, 2011 - The Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) and BMO Financial Group will present Toronto-based photographer Edward Burtynsky with the MOCCA Award 2011 during a gala event at MOCCA in Toronto this evening.

In naming him as the third recipient of the Award, MOCCA cited the national and international acclaim Mr. Burtynsky has received for extraordinarily unique bodies of work produced over the course of nearly three decades. Combining knowledge of photography, its history and techniques, with an astute perceptual rigour, Burtynsky creates stunning images of sites of some of the heaviest and most essential industrial activities in Canada and around the world. His pictures are admired as much for their aesthetic and formal resolution as they are for the economic, political, social and cultural issues that they raise. The timeliness of Edward Burtynsky’s work strongly resonates with MOCCA’s mandate to present themes and issues pertinent to our times.

To honour Mr. Burtynsky, each guest at the event will receive a limited edition artwork, created specially for the occasion by Edward Burtynsky himself. Guests will also enjoy unique cuisine prepared by internationally-renowned Chef Susur Lee as they preview a series of Burtynsky’s most recent photographs. Other highlights will include the premiere of Jennifer Baichwal and Nick de Penciers’ film Four Things You Didn’t Know About Edward Burtynsky.

The MOCCA Award exhibition of Edward Burtynsky’s most recent photographs will be on view to the public on Saturday April 16^th and Sunday April 17^th ONLY!!

Sponsors:

• Presenting Sponsor: BMO Financial Group
• Platinum Sponsor: Aeroplan

Highlights/Key Facts:

• The biennial, $20,000 award was established by MOCCA in 2007 to honour a Canadian active in the field of visual arts for innovation, accomplishment or contribution over time, or for a specific project that has national or international significance.
• Michael Snow received the MOCCA Award 2007, and Matthew Teitelbaum, Michael and Sonja Koerner Director, and CEO of the Art Gallery of Ontario received the MOCCA Award in 2009.
• BMO Financial Group has been sponsor of the Award since its inception.

Links/URLs:

• For more information on the MOCCA Award: http://www.moccaaward.ca
• Read full text press release: http://www.moccaaward.ca/media-centre
• For more information on Edward Burtynsky: http://www.edwardburtynsky.com/

Quotes:

• David Liss, Artistic Director & Curator, MOCCA:

“Through his photography and his many other activities, both in and outside of the art world, Edward has made significant contributions to the culture of our times. MOCCA is honoured to present this Award to Mr. Burtynsky.”

• Gilles G. Ouellette, President and Chief Executive Officer, Private Client Group, BMO Financial Group – sponsor of the Award:

“Edward Burtynsky’s spectacular photography helps teach us about the sometimes-troubled relationship between man and nature; as he puts it, his images are meant as metaphors to the dilemma of our modern existence. BMO is pleased to congratulate Mr. Burtynsky – he is indeed a deserving recipient of this prestigious honour.”

Tags / Keywords:

Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, MOCCA, MOCCA Award in Contemporary Art, MOCCA Award 2011, Edward Burtynsky, Contemporary Canadian Art, award, photography, David Liss, Gilles Ouellette, Private Client Group, BMO Financial Group, BMO, Susur Lee, Lee, Jennifer Baichwal, Nick de Pencier.

RSS Feed for MOCCA: feed://www.mocca.ca/feed/rss/

About MOCCA:

The Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) was founded from the former Art Gallery of North York in 1999, with the mandate to exhibit, research, collect, and promote innovative art by Canadian and non-Canadian artists whose works engage and reflect the relevant stories of our times. In 2005, MOCCA relocated to the West Queen West Art + Design District in downtown Toronto, in the heart of one of North America’s most dynamic arts communities and functions effectively as a nucleus of energies for cultural production and exchange. Since 2006, MOCCA draws 40,000 visitors annually.

For more Information, visit http://www.mocca.ca/

For ongoing news, please go to http://www.mocca.ca/media-centre/

All programs and activities of the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art are supported by Toronto Culture, the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, BMO Financial Group, individual memberships and private donations.

# # #

Media Contact:
Fayiaz Chunara
Head, Communications and Marketing
416.395.7490
fchunara@mocca.ca

AGO CEO Matthew Teitelbaum Named Recipient of MOCCA Award 2009

Toronto, December 17, 2008

The Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) is pleased to announce that Matthew Teitelbaum, Michael and Sonja Koerner Director, and CEO of the Art Gallery of Ontario, has been named as the recipient of the MOCCA Award 2009.

The biennial, $20,000 award was established by MOCCA in 2007 to honour a Canadian active in the field of visual arts for innovation, accomplishment or contribution over time, or for a specific project that has national or international significance.

The MOCCA Award will be presented to Mr. Teitelbaum at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art at a gala event on April 23, 2009. To honour Mr. Teitelbaum, each guest at the event will receive a limited edition artwork, created especially for the event, by nationally renowned artist David Blackwood.

The award recognizes Mr. Teitelbaum’s leadership in the completion of Transformation AGO. Since re-opening the major Frank Gehry renovation at the Art Gallery of Ontario in November 2008, the project has received overwhelmingly positive critical and public acclaim locally, nationally and internationally. With 110 light-filled galleries and more than 4,000 extraordinary works of art on view, the AGO has re-emerged as an institution in dialogue with the world.

“The Transformation AGO project is inspirational to the entire Canadian art world and sets a standard by which all public institutions can and should aspire,” said David Liss, Artistic Director, MOCCA. “Matthew’s accomplishment as the leader of this team and community effort also serves as a personal inspiration to me and to many of my colleagues.”

“It is deeply gratifying to be a part of the remarkable cultural moment that is the new Art Gallery of Ontario,” said Mr. Teitelbaum. “On behalf of so many who journeyed this transformation with us, I thank MOCCA and BMO Financial Group for this great honour. The visual arts have a special place in our spirit during these challenging social and economic times. MOCCA’s contribution in recent years has been inspirational to all of us. It is wonderful to stand side by side, together, and declare that art really does matter.”

“Matthew Teitelbaum is an exceptional choice for this year’s MOCCA Award,” said Gilles Ouellette, President and CEO of the Private Client Group at BMO Financial Group – the lead supporter of the award. “His efforts brought the vision of a transformed AGO to its stunning reality. BMO is proud to join with MOCCA in honouring such a deserving builder.”

The Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art was founded from the former Art Gallery of North York in 1999 with a mandate to exhibit, research, collect, and promote innovative art by Canadian artists whose works engage and reflect the relevant stories of our times.

Honorary Chair: Carol Rapp; Award Sponsor BMO Financial Group; Silver Sponsor: EllisDon Corporation; Bronze Sponsors: Anonymous Donors, Benecaid, Linda Young, Robert Harding, St. Joseph Communications.

MOCCA Award 2009 Presented to AGO CEO Matthew Teitelbaum

April 23, 2009

The Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) and BMO Financial Group have announced that Matthew Teitelbaum, the Michael and Sonja Koerner Director, and CEO of the Art Gallery of Ontario, received the MOCCA Award 2009 during a gala event at MOCCA in Toronto this evening.

The award recognizes Mr.Teitelbaum’s leadership in the completion of Transformation AGO. In an extraordinary gesture of generosity, Mr.Teitelbaum donated the $20,000 cash prize to the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art in support of their ambitious activities.

“It is deeply gratifying to be a part of the remarkable cultural moment that is the new Art Gallery of Ontario,” said Mr. Teitelbaum. “On behalf of so many who journeyed this transformation with us, I thank MOCCA and BMO Financial Group for this great honour. The visual arts have a special place in our spirit during these challenging social and economic times. MOCCA’s contribution in recent years has been inspirational to all of us. It is wonderful to stand side by side, together, and declare that art really does matter.”

MOCCA Artistic Director David Liss acknowledged Mr. Teitelbaum’s accomplishments as recipient of this year’s award: “Matthew Teitelbaum’s vision and leadership in achieving Transformation AGO is an exemplary and inspirational model for important culture-building in Canada.”

“I’m pleased to congratulate Matthew Teitelbaum on behalf of BMO,” said Gilles Ouellette, President and CEO of the Private Client Group at BMO Financial Group – the lead supporter of the award. “His efforts brought the vision of a transformed AGO to its stunning reality. We are very proud to join with MOCCA in honouring such a deserving builder.”

To honour Mr. Teitelbaum, each guest at the event received a limited edition artwork, created especially for the occasion by nationally renowned artist and long-time AGO advocate David Blackwood. Guests also enjoyed food from Chef Susur Lee’s internationally-acclaimed restaurants Madeline’s, Lee and Shang N.Y.C. The evening featured the installation, Habitat (MOCCA Award), by Toronto-based artist Luis Jacob, and a special slide presentation of Edward Burtynsky’s photographs commissioned for the Transformation AGO project, 2006 – 2008. Other highlights of the evening included a presentation by Honorary Chair Carol Rapp and a live interview between Matthew Teitelbaum and media commentator Allan Gregg.

The Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art was founded with a mandate to exhibit, research, collect, and promote innovative art by Canadian and international artists whose works engage and reflect the relevant stories of our times.

The biennial, $20,000 award was established by MOCCA in 2007 to honour a Canadian active in the field of visual arts for innovation, accomplishment or contribution over time, or for a specific project that has national or international significance.

Award Sponsor
BMO Financial Group

Silver Sponsors
EllisDon Corporation, Chef Susur Lee, Madeline’s, Lee, Shang N.Y.C

Bronze Sponsors
Salah Bachir, Benecaid, Johnson Chou, IKEA, Robert Harding, HP,
Nadir + Shabin Mohamed,, St. Joseph Communications, The Ouellette Family Foundation, Linda Young, Anonymous

Event Donors
Aeroplan, Axa Art, HKMB Hub International, Marla and Edward Schwartz,
Rosamond Ivey

Event Suppliers
Canadian Art, Cave Spring Cellars, CJ Graphics Inc.,
Mark J. Mooney & Assoc. Ltd., q mediia solutions, Stagevision Inc.,
Tiffany & Co., Toronto International Art Fair

Acclaimed photographer Edward Burtynsky named recipient of MOCCA Award 2011

TORONTO, Ont., October 19, 2010 – The Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art is pleased to announce Toronto-based photographer Edward Burtynsky as the recipient of the $20,000.00 MOCCA Award in Contemporary Art 2011.

The MOCCA Award will be presented to Mr. Burtynsky at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art at a gala event on April 14, 2011. Each guest at the event will receive a limited edition artwork by Burtynsky created especially to mark the event.

In naming him as the third recipient of the Award, MOCCA cited the national and international acclaim
Mr. Burtynsky has received for extraordinarily unique bodies of work produced over the course of nearly three decades. Combining knowledge of photography, its history and techniques, with a sharp perceptual rigour, Burtynsky creates stunning images of the sites of some of the heaviest and most essential industrial activities in Canada and around the world. Often cinematic in scale and always spectacular in pattern and detail, his pictures are as highly regarded for their formal and aesthetic qualities as they are for being powerful, and even disturbing documents of the impact that these activities have upon the landscape, the ecology, upon our very selves and our surroundings. MOCCA also noted that the challenging and timely issues raised by Ed Burtynsky through his work, resonate within the context of our stated mandate to present art pertinent and relevant to our times.

Ed Burtynsky is one of the most globally visible Canadian artists working today. In recent years he has exhibited in some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim Museum and the Bibliothèque nationale in Paris, among many others. His most recent museum exhibition, Oil, is a five-year international tour organized by the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. His photographs are also included in major collections worldwide, including the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art. Ed Burtynsky’s images have been featured in numerous periodicals and publications, such as Flash Art, Art Forum, The Smithsonian, National Geographic, Saturday Night and The New York Times.

Quotes:

• David Liss, Artistic Director and Curator, Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art:

  “Ed Burtynsky’s images provide timely insights into human behavior. They raise questions and issues that we avoid at our peril. In addition to his work, Ed has also made enormous contributions to his culture and to his community.”

• Gilles Ouellette, President and CEO of the Private Client Group at BMO Financial Group –sponsor of the Award:

  “On behalf of BMO, I want to offer my congratulations to Ed Burtynsky – one of today’s great chroniclers of our planet. His spectacular photography helps teach us about the sometimes-troubled relationship between man and nature; as he puts it, his images are meant as metaphors to the dilemma of our modern existence. Mr. Burtynsky is indeed a deserving recipient of this prestigious honour.”

• Edward Burtynsky, MOCCA Award 2011 Recipient:

  “I’ve always believed in doing things that build strong cultural communities, and never bought into the idea that one has to leave Canada in order to build an international career. This award stands as a confirmation of those beliefs.”

Highlights/Key Facts:

• The biennial, $20,000 award was established by MOCCA in 2007 to honour a Canadian active in the field of visual arts for innovation, accomplishment or contribution over time, or for a specific project that has national or international significance.
• Michael Snow received the MOCCA Award 2007, and Matthew Teitelbaum, Michael and Sonja Koerner Director, and CEO of the Art Gallery of Ontario received the MOCCA Award in 2009.
• BMO Financial Group has been sponsor of the Award since its inception.
• MOCCA has launched a new website, www.moccaaward.ca, for this initiative. Features include in-depth information about current and past winners, and the ability to purchase tickets online.

Links/URLs:

• Purchase tickets and get more information on the MOCCA Award:

  http://www.moccaaward.ca

• Read full text press release:

  http://www.moccaaward.ca/media-centre

• For more information on Edward Burtynsky:

  http://www.edwardburtynsky.com/

Tags/Keywords:

Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, MOCCA, MOCCA Award in Contemporary Art, MOCCA Award 2011, Edward Burtynsky, Contemporary Canadian Art, award, photography, David Liss, Giles Ouellette, Private Client Group, BMO Financial Group, BMO.

RSS Feed for MOCCA: http://www.mocca.ca/index.xml

About MOCCA:

The Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) was founded from the former Art Gallery of North York in 1999, with the mandate to exhibit, research, collect, and promote innovative art by Canadian and non-Canadian artists whose works engage and reflect the relevant stories of our times. In 2005, MOCCA relocated to the West Queen West Art + Design District in downtown Toronto, in the heart of one of North America’s most dynamic arts communities. Our facility is modest in scale, impressive in design, and functions effectively as a nucleus of energies for cultural production and exchange. Since 2006, MOCCA draws 40,000 visitors annually.

For ongoing news, please go to http://www.mocca.ca/media-centre/

All programs and activities of the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art are supported by Toronto Culture, the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, BMO Financial Group, individual memberships and private donations.

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