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Keeping a promise in clay: The Robert Archambeau book project

Over the past several months, my work through Civic Muse has been particularly full and wide-ranging—spanning museum and cultural projects, strategic planning and governance work, collecting initiatives, and major publishing commitments. Alongside this, I continue to teach at both the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg, while also writing a regular column for […]

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Art is Essential to Daily Life

Is art truly essential to our daily lives, or is it merely an indulgence—a luxury, perhaps even irrelevant? A few years ago, I debated this very question on stage at the National Gallery of Canada with Kate Taylor of the Globe & Mail. We argued in favour of art’s essential role, while Marc Mayer, NGC

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Power of the Circle: What I Learned from the North

In leadership, we often talk about taking charge, holding vision, or setting direction. These are the hallmarks of the Western model of leadership: top-down, forward-facing, output-driven. But during my time working with Indigenous communities – especially in the North – I encountered a very different way. One that challenged my assumptions and reshaped my understanding

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Leading by Values, Not Reputation

Reputation can be dazzling. It opens doors, earns invitations, and creates an aura of credibility before you’ve said a word. But it’s also shaped by headlines, online chatter, and shifting public moods. It can quickly fade or turn, especially in leadership. Reputation alone is a fragile foundation. What truly sustains leadership is something far more

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Art as Advocacy; Not Just Advocacy for Art

A couple of years before construction began on the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, something quietly profound happened. The institution’s corporate name was changed — from the Canadian Museum of Human Rights to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. One word, and suddenly the mission was activated. No longer simply about studying or

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The Power of a Painting

Do you remember that controversy back in 1990 at the National Gallery of Canada? Barnett Newman’s Voice of Fire — three towering stripes in blue and red — had just been purchased by the NGC for $1.8 million. The outcry was immediate: Three stripes? I don’t get it! I could do that! The lines were

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The New Museum: What Does It Look Like?

Museum directors are often drawn to the promise of a great collection, an iconic building, or a one-of-a-kind mission. These are all important, of course. But what impels and inspires me today is the challenge of creating something new — something meaningful, impactful, and sustainable. Something that doesn’t just preserve the past, but actively helps

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The Leadership Needed Today

There’s never been a more urgent moment to rethink what leadership in arts and culture truly demands. Not just the kind of leadership that keeps doors open, but the kind that shifts the moral compass of our institutions and our communities. When I look back on the museum and gallery experiences that have shaped me,

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