Recognizing Philippe de Montebello’s commitment to the curatorial profession and the founding of the AAMC, we are celebrating the 10^th Anniversary of our organization by announcing the establishment of the Philippe de Montebello Award for Distinguished Service.

At a meeting of curators in 2001, Philippe de Montebello remarked:

Huge power and influence are wielded by curators. I refer to the power you have over the artistic life of millions of people. You are the ones who choose the works of art that enter public collections, who decide on which are to go on view, and who have such enormous affective power over so many people’s appreciation and understanding of art, in the way you choose to present it. . .  in what sequence, in what context—we all know there are innumerable ways of displaying art, and that each conveys something very different and affects people in very different ways.

Philippe’s pioneering words of encouragement make it most appropriate that we name our distinguished service award for him and that we honor him as its first recipient.