From October 14-16, 2026, a historic delegation of over 100 FRAME members from across France and North America gathered in Lyon for the network’s 2026 Annual Conference. This year marked the third gathering in Lyon since the organization’s official launch in the city in 1999, and conference hosts the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon and macLyon ensured the delegation enjoyed a warm welcome and compelling program of events.
FRAME would like to acknowledge Sylvie Ramond, General Director of the MBA I MAC Museums Pole, Lyon, and Director of the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon, and her entire team for their invaluable support in organizing this year’s event.
Timed to align with the Lyon Contemporary Art Biennial, this year’s conference tackled the urgent theme of “The Social Engagement of Museums and their Audiences through Contemporary Creation” through a thought-provoking series of workshops and panel discussions. The Keynote Roundtable on October 15, which was open to students from the Lyon School of Fine Arts and livestreamed, featured the perspectives of leading figures in the art world: cultural strategist, curator, and educator Sandra Jackson-Dumont; interdisciplinary Cree visual artist Kent Monkman; art historian, writer, and curator of the 2026 Biennale of Contemporary Art in Lyon and artistic director of Manifesta Catherine Nichols; French-Cameroonian painter, sculptor, and engraver Barthélémy Toguo; and moderator, journalist, and art critic Anaël Pigeat. The roundtable, supported by the Terra Foundation for American Art, addressed artistic practice as a form of social engagement and explored how museums can partner with contemporary artists to foster diversity within their collections and engage new audiences.
During the conference’s general assembly, FRAME members voted to induct two new North American museums: the Dallas Museum of Art and the Cincinnati Art Museum, bringing FRAME’s total membership to 33 museums.
Delegates also took advantage of opportunities to explore the rich contemporary art scene in Lyon and the surrounding region, with guided visits to the Artissima Collection, courtesy of François and Michelle Philippon; the Saint-Etienne Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MAMC+) with Director Aurélie Voltz; the Contemporary Art Biennale at Les Grandes Locos with Executive Director Cécile Bourgeat; the Grenoble Museum with Director Sébastien Gokalp; and the Musée Dauphinois with Director Olivier Cogne.
Delegates also enjoyed a Grand Dinner at Lyon City Hall, preceded by a ceremony to induct William Beekman, Co-President of FRAME, as Officer of the French Order of Arts and Letters by FRAME Co-President and Head of the French Museum Department Christelle Creff.
The next FRAME Annual Conference will take place in North America in Fall 2027. Participation in this and other FRAME events is by invitation only to members of the FRAME network.
For more information, please contact:
• Caite Panzer, Executive Director, FRAME, North America: caite.panzer@framemuseums.org / +1 917-942-9789
• Emilie Vanhaesebroucke, Executive Director, FRAME, France: e.vanhaesebroucke@framemuseums.org / + 33 (0)6 82 93 96 42
