Do we still need to bother about feminism? - Editor's Interviews

Lucy Gibson: Over the years, has there ever been a desire to move away from the female focus of the organisation?

Roxanne Arsenault: Well I can't speak for everyone and I do not know everything that has gone on in the past 35 years. For sure some members and some people thought and still think that a feminist gallery isn’t pertinent, but the gallery has always been female and/or feminist focused. I distinguish both, because I feel that in the beginning, we obviously affirmed our feminist position, but at a certain time (maybe mid-90's), feminism was not a term that people were at ease with or proud of stating. At that time the gallery was definitely more women focused. It's interesting because now with our new mandate we have brought back feminism into our mandate, but in an inclusive way. So I would say it's not so much female focused (in terms of gender exclusivity) but more focused on the broad preoccupations of 3rd wave feminism.

LG: It appears there is a rich seam of women working in the artist-run sector in Montreal - being at the forefront of organisations, seeing it as important to retain the feminist focus - whereas I struggle to think of any similarly established feminist arts organisations that are actively promoting the work of women and offering production and exhibition opportunities in the UK. Why do you think it is important to keep feminist principles active in the arts, in contemporary Montreal and Canada? Why do you think they have stayed so prominent?

RA: Good question, let me think…
Well, I don't know so much about the situation in the UK, but even though there might be more women at the forefront of non-profit organisations the situation is not equal as you climb the reconnaissance or income ladder. Even though it's getting better women here are not at the forefront of museums, contests, and prizes. Salary equity is not applied everywhere yet. I mean woah! Are we in 2009, or what? A lot of people, women and men, do not realise this and seeing all the women in art schools and in artists run centres tend to think that the situation is solved. On the other hand, Quebec has had a long history of being more progressive, more left wing I guess. So we have done a lot of progressive work in the movement and that's why feminism here can be and has to be more inclusive.


Read the full interview with Roxanne

Lucy Gibson: Can you tell me, briefly, how the gallery started and what your mandate is? 

Megan Bradley: The gallery got started out of what I felt to be a need for privately funded contemporary galleries within the city of Montreal. I wanted it to become a place for emerging artists to gain experience in the art market as well as within the public sphere.

LG: Have you found it to be either advantageous or difficult setting up a commercial gallery as a woman in Quebec?

MB: hmm... That’s also a tough question, you know I hadn't thought about it much. Initially not at all, but as I started to meet more and more people within the milieu I realised that there was a certain hesitation amongst people working in the industry to take me seriously. It was brought to my attention a few times that I was a young inexperienced woman and that that might hinder my progress or success as a serious gallerist, but that's the kind of thing you don't hear too often and in this day and age its also the kind of thing I have to laugh off as it's just such a dated outlook on the way the world works. I choose not to worry about it too much and to consider myself an emerging gallerist, without focusing too much on gender, age or any of the factors that can lead to unjust assumptions.

LG: Does it make you more determined?

MB: Admittedly... yes ! So I guess I do think about it from time to time! It makes me more determined because I have heard the comments, and I have been faced with the fact that some people continue to feel that women are somehow less capable. I guess like anyone I just want to make sure I can stand my ground and prove that I am able to give this a real go, that comes from a whole combination of factors, including the fact that I am a woman.

Read the full interview with Megan