Betty Julian has been appointed to interim director and senior curator at the McMaster Museum of Art — M(M)A — beginning Sept. 1, 2024.

Julian steps into the role following her tenure as the museum’s adjunct senior curator since September 2022, bringing over three decades of experience in the visual arts.

“I’m grateful for the vote of confidence and for the opportunity to continue my curatorial and management work at the M(M)A,” Julian said. “I look forward to building on our partnerships across campus and also within the broader Hamilton community.”

Born in Halifax, Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia), Julian is an off-reserve citizen of the Sipekne’katnik First Nation and of the Black diaspora.

Her career in the arts began in 1988, and she has held various prominent positions, including adjunct curator at Prefix Institute of Contemporary Art and assistant professor at OCAD University.

Julian’s area of curatorial specialization spans photography, film and video. Her curatorial practice places emphasis on the transcultural discourses on colonialism and the intersectional dialogues on gender, representation, and psychoanalytic thought.

Julian succeeds Carol Podedworny, who is retiring after 18 transformative years as director and chief curator.

“I am pleased to have Betty take on this elevated leadership position at the museum. Her extensive experience will support the McMaster Museum of Art’s mission of engaging, educating and inspiring,” said Susan Tighe, provost and vice-president (Academic).

“I am also deeply thankful to Carol for having transformed the M(M)A into a vibrant hub of artistic and cultural engagement. Carol’s legacy of excellence will continue to guide us all.”

As a university-affiliated public art museum, the McMaster Museum of Art plays a unique role on campus and in society. By presenting the scholarly work produced at the university in ways that are accessible and relatable to a general audience, the museum serves as a liaison between the academy and the public.

In addition, the M(M)A contributes to the discourse on art in Canada by contributing research and sector development to the broader Canadian arts milieu through the production of exhibitions, ancillary programs, and publications.

The M(M)A also provides significant cultural and community development beyond the walls of the museum, through community partnerships and learning opportunities. The museum places a priority on supporting artists and curators, along with offering exhibitions and public programs for faculty, staff, students, alumni, and members of McMaster’s campus community.

Over her time as director and chief curator, Podedworny significantly shaped the M(M)A, fostering an environment of artistic and cultural engagement. Her efforts to amplify underrepresented voices and to secure crucial funding have left a lasting impact.

“At the McMaster Museum of Art, we have been presenting the work of Indigenous artists since 2006 and actively working toward decolonizing the institution since 2014,” Podedworny said.

“Betty’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, decoloniality, and contemporary cultural and artistic practices make her a significant and profoundly exciting choice to transition the museum into its next chapter.”

During her time at the M(M)A, Julian has curated impactful exhibitions, such as Chasm, which she describes as a critical collection exhibition that expanded on the emergence of more critical curatorial frameworks for current exhibitions at the M(M)A.

Julian has also played an integral role in supporting early career curators through the IBPOC curatorial mentorship program  an artistic leadership initiative of the museum to support curatorial professional development for emerging Indigenous and Black curators.

Julian’s vision as interim director includes supporting and realizing the museum’s curatorial commitments and fostering effective collaborations with artists, curators, writers, and educational partners. She aims to continue the museum’s trajectory developed under Podedworny while addressing the challenges and opportunities of the current era.

Julian will serve in the interim role for a period of up to one year or until a permanent director is appointed. A selection committee has been formed to lead the search of a new permanent director beginning in the Fall 2025 term.