The McMaster Museum of Art is pleased to share that Elyse Clinning has joined the Museum as Communications Officer.

After completing a bachelor’s degree in art history from Queen’s University, in 2014 Elyse completed a master’s degree in contemporary art from Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York. Her thesis, titled “History is Painted by the Victors: Landscapes of Desire & Strategies of Subversion in the Work of Kent Monkman” was granted an award of distinction. Elyse has held various roles in the Toronto arts community and in 2017 joined a Toronto-based creative communications firm where she managed the communications strategies for some of the country’s leading architects and designers. She has since developed a thoughtful and strategic approach to communications and media relations.

The MMA Recruitment Committee were impressed by Elyse’s knowledge, skills, and experience; her demeanor; and her commitment to communications as both a bridge and as a means to re-imagine the MMA’s location in the community. Moreover, Elyse expressed her understanding of, and commitment to, museums in the 21st C: our need for accountability, for taking ownership for the past, and for positioning ourselves as responsive to and expressive of the transformations in our sector that will move society forward.

The Committee unanimously feel that Elyse will fulfill the communication needs of the Museum; support the culture we have developed as a team in our 2020-2025 Strategic Plan; as well as help us to be innovative moving forward, generating new audiences and relationships.

We are excited to welcome her to the Museum, McMaster and Hamilton!