The National Gallery of Canada last week announced the appointment of curator, educator, writer and scholar Andrea Kunard as senior curator of photographs.

In overseeing the gallery’s photography department, Andrea’s mandate will focus on “diversity and accessibility,” with attention to making space for historically marginalized groups and issues, according to the gallery.

“Andrea has a long history at the gallery,” Sasha Suda, NGC Director and CEO, writes in a statement. “She has done remarkable work as our associate curator of photographs — writing compelling exhibition catalogues and organizing major exhibitions … as well as virtual ones, like Photostories Canada (launched in 2017). We are honoured to have her on our team. Her expertise will go a long way towards fulfilling our commitment to represent the communities we exist to serve, as well as to extend the reach of the collection.”

In addition to holding a PhD in Art History from Queen’s University, a Master of Arts from Carleton University, and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) from the University of Manitoba, Andrea holds a Diploma (Hons.) in Interdisciplinary Studies from the Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

Andrea will also work to broaden collaboration with other institutions and groups, in order to “provide opportunities for their voices to be present in gallery spaces.” Engaging scholars — particularly emerging scholars and students — with research opportunities is likewise a priority, the gallery notes.

Originally hired in 1998 as assistant curator at the gallery’s affiliate museum, the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, Andrea Kunard was associate curator of photographs since 2009. Her contributions to the academic sector are noteworthy. Since 2013, she has been an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa, and in the late 1990s and early 2000s, was a frequent sessional instructor on Canadian art and photography at Carleton and Queen's universities. In 2008, she co-edited a major publication The Cultural Work of Photography in Canada (McGill Queens Press), and has written numerous articles for national and international academic journals.