Dr.

Alison McQueen’s statement delivered at

McMaster University Faculty of Humanities Meeting
Monday, March 1st, 2010:

"In the ten years I have taught in the Art History program at McMaster I have been very happy
to witness the achievements of our students, who have gone on to build successful professional
lives in fields including law, education, architecture, design, conservation and work in
commercial galleries as well as public galleries and museums around the world.

Art History has faced several challenges over the past few years. Among them is the fact that of
the 66 students who have currently declared art history as their major, honours or joint
honours program, one third are part- time students. Of the second year students who declared
art history their major in 2009-10, nearly 50% are part-time. As each of us knows, these part-
time students are not included in the full-time equivalent numbers that form an important
statistic for each program at McMaster University.

I am very proud of the successes of the men and women who have studied in our program.
The Art History program has over 90% female students and it is, indeed, a field where women
have been embraced for decades and where women have been able to achieve considerable
leadership opportunities. Statistics published in the Toronto Star on December 1st, 2009
indicate women continue to have limited access to leadership opportunities in Canada: 6% in
business, 13% in universities, and 22% in government. (A20) In the Hamilton community, for
example, the director of both the Art Gallery of Hamilton and the McMaster Museum of Art are
female. The National Gallery of Canada has also had two female directors, each of whom
served for ten years, and the second of whom then went on to head the Canada Council for the
Arts. Arts institutions are one of the few areas in which women have had notable leadership
opportunities in Canada and professional training in art history has been integral to realizing
this potential.

I thank the faculty in Classics, Theater and Film Studies, Multimedia and Philosophy who have
offered cross-listed classes that have been so important for the program. I particularly thank
my colleauges in Art for the close and supportive relationship we have enjoyed. I would like to
say what a great honour and pleasure it has been to teach art history in this high quality
program."