Bank of America today announced three major initiatives supporting the arts in Canada, including recent funding for restoration projects in Montreal and Toronto, as well as lead sponsorship of the American Institute for Conservation's Annual Meeting and Conference, which took place this year in Montreal.

These efforts build on the firm's long-standing commitment to cultural preservation in Canada. Since 2013, Bank of America has supported several cultural initiatives across the country through its global Art Conservation Project and partnerships with leading cultural institutions, helping to conserve important works of art and expand public access to the arts.

"At Bank of America, we believe that investing in the arts enriches lives, and we support nonprofit partners to expand access while preserving art and heritage for future generations," said Drew McDonald, Country Executive and President of Bank of America Canada. "We're especially proud of our long-standing roots in Canada, dating back to 1903, and of our broad presence across the country of 1,000 teammates who help clients drive growth globally."

A complex marionette sculpture â?? with a deeply moving story, Juggler was created shortly after World War II, when Rahon, an eminent figure of the Surrealist movement, turned to the cosmos to contemplate the continuation of humanity after such a catastrophe.

The work is in unstable condition today. The current system of presentation in a transparent plexiglass box induces physical stress in the structure and increases the risk of breakage, torsion, and deformation of the metallic components and micro-lift in the gold paint layer.

The grant will enable the complete restoration of the artwork, bringing together MMFA curators, conservation specialists, and a puppeteer to conduct expert analysis, restore movement, and create a custom suspension harness and display case that ensure long-term protection while honoring the work's identity as a marionette.

"Alice Rahon's Juggler is an extraordinary work of postwar Surrealism, and its conservation is essential to preserving the stories and artistic voices that shape our cultural memory," said  Mary-Dailey Desmarais, Zhao-Ionescu Chief Curator of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. "The financial support enables us to stabilize and restore this remarkably delicate sculpture so it can be shared with the public as the artist intended. The collaboration with the bank allows us to protect a vital piece of artistic heritage and deepen our commitment to conservation excellence in Canada."

In line with Bank of America's commitment to art conservation, the firm was the lead sponsor of the American Institute for Conservation's (AIC) Annual Meeting and Conference this year â??marking its fourth year supporting the eventâ??which took place in Montreal. AIC is a leading membership association for conservators and allied professionals dedicated to preserving cultural heritage, representing more than 3,500 individuals across more than 40 countries.

This year's programming included talks, panels, and presentations centered on the theme "Conservation at the Intersection of Innovation and Tradition," exploring how conservation practices evolve at the edge of experimentation while remaining deeply rooted in continuity, legacy, and community.

As part of the conference, the AIC led a Community Partnership Project at McGill University's Redpath Museum. Also supported by Bank of America, the initiative brought together emerging and established conservation professionals to help improve storage conditions for the museum's collections. The team worked on the conservation of a unique collection of historic woven baskets and developed a plan to enhance the institution's long-term preservation capabilities.

"Bank of America's support for our meeting and this project continue to demonstrate their outstanding commitment to preservation and the arts," said Lissa Rosenthal-Yoffe, Executive Director of AIC. "Being able to gather as a community and give back to our hosting city is incredibly meaningfulâ??Bank of America is an essential partner in this work."

"Pegi Nicol MacLeod was a trailblazing Modern artist, and her paintings are a treasured part of the AGO Collection. Stabilizing these works so they may return to public view is an important step in advancing recognition of her remarkable legacy," said Maria Sullivan, Head of Conservation, Art Gallery of Ontario. "Thanks to Bank of America's generous support, our conservation team can address longâ??standing structural challenges in these paintings and ensure that MacLeod's vivid, dynamic vision can once again be experienced by audiences in Canada and beyond."

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SOURCE Bank of America Corporation

SOURCE: Bank of America Corporation

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