Less than a week after winning last year's election and just days before meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Mark Carney was searching for art to adorn his office walls. Staff at the National Gallery of Canada were instructed to dress casually for a Saturday morning visit, though one brought a tie 'just in case.'
Quick Preparations for the Prime Minister's Visit
The gallery's director, Jean-Francois Belisle, was in St. Louis for a conference when the Prime Minister's Office requested a tour of Canadian and Indigenous pieces, including vault access. He returned promptly to oversee the preparations. Senior curators curated a selection of artworks that might appeal to Carney, mapping a precise route.
Big, Bold, and Very Canadian
Paul Genest, chair of the gallery's board of trustees, noted that a senior adviser mentioned a large wall behind Carney's desk in Langevin Block, requiring 'something big, bold, very Canadian.' Internal emails released under access-to-information laws detail the gallery's efforts and Carney's considerations. Many of the roughly 350 pages were redacted.
Borrowing art from the national gallery or the Canada Council Art Bank is a longstanding tradition for prime ministers, governors general, Supreme Court justices, and federal ministers. However, that Carney prioritized this in his first week as prime minister did not go unnoticed. Trustee Sara Stasiuk wrote, 'Oh I love this. That art was a priority for the new PM to spend time on during his first week is a big deal.' Senior curator Katerina Atanassova called photos from the visit a 'historic moment.'
Nearly 50 Pieces Borrowed
The Privy Council Office confirmed Carney borrowed nearly 50 pieces, about one-third from the national gallery's collection of over 90,000 works. Gallery staff focused on historical English and French Canadian works, Indigenous pieces, contemporary art, and Arctic pieces, while considering lighting and temperature conditions in his offices.
