Series

This series documents Clarence A. Gagnon's involvement with the Art Association of Montreal. In particular, the series includes lists of recommendations concerning the organization of the Association's art school, recorded in the form of handwritten notes and two typewritten documents dated April 1, 1938. These texts document an approach to teaching the arts that gives teachers tremendous autonomy, both in their choice of teaching methods and program content. Among the many subjects covered are studio use, facilities and equipment management, proposed classes, teachers' salary and length of contract, the desire to favour Quebec artists for teaching jobs, the teachers' ability to select their own students and models and the students' ability to choose their professor and change, if so desired, after a month, the teaching of a wide variety of techniques and methods so students can select those that best suit them, tuition administration, the selection of a student representative from each class so classes could continue in the teacher's absence, the organization of outdoor classes, and the awarding of cash prizes to students. There is also a class schedule.

In addition, the series contains correspondence between Gagnon and Dr. Charles F. Martin, the Association's director at the time. The correspondence between the two men notably includes a rather tense exchange from March 1940 following incidents that, according to Gagnon, called into question his presence at Association activities because he had failed to complete the paperwork and pay the annual fee required for membership. Obviously offended, the artist points to his long-standing ties with and contributions to the Association. A letter from Charles F. Martin informing Clarence A. Gagnon of the creation and composition of an advisory committee names some of the artists he would have spent time with as part of his Association activities: Frederick S. Coburn, Edwin Holgate, Albert H. Robinson, Robert Pilot and Henri Hébert.

An undated press clipping announces the founding of the Art Association's art school and its first activities in the fall. It lists the artists hired to run the school: painters Edwin Holgate and Lilias Newton. Artists Anne Savage and Ethel Seath are named as the heads of art classes for children. Finally, the series includes a copy of the Association's 1937 annual report, which contains lists of donors, lectures, exhibitions and acquisitions of works of art, along with the financial statements for the year.