Media Advisory: 10th Annual BMO 1st Art! Exhibition / Graduating student artists from across the country will display their award winning work at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) from October 3-28, 2012

TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 09/19/12 -- The BMO 1st Art! Invitational Student Art Competition celebrates the creativity and diversity of Canadian art students, and recognizes the exceptional work of graduating student artists chosen from eligible post-secondary institutions nationwide.

What:    BMO 1st Art! Exhibition 2012

         An exhibition of original award-winning works of art by graduating
         student artists from across Canada at MOCCA

         The (esteemed) judges for the 10th annual competition are:
         - jake moore, Artist and Director, FOFA Gallery, Concordia
           University
         - Candice Hopkins, Elizabeth Simonfay Assistant Curator, National
           Gallery of Canada
         - Kathleen Ritter, Artist and Associate Curator, Vancouver Art
           Gallery
         - Nicholas Brown, Independent Curator
         - Gilles G. Ouellette, President & Chief Executive Officer, Private
           Client Group, BMO Financial Group and Deputy Chairman, BMO
           Nesbitt Burns
         - Dawn Cain, Curator, Corporate Art Collection, BMO Financial
           Group.

Who:     Winners of the BMO 1st Art! Invitational Student Art Competition
         2012
         1 National Winner
         12 Regional Winners

When:    October 3-28, 2012

Where:   Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA)
         952 Queen Street West, Toronto
         Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, from 11 am to 6 pm
         Closed Mondays
         Admission to the gallery is FREE

About BMO Financial Group

Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is a highly diversified North American financial services organization. With total assets of $542 billion as at July 31, 2012, and more than 46,000 employees, BMO Financial Group provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions.

Contacts:
For media inquiries about the
BMO 1st Art! Invitational Student Art Competition 2012,
please contact: BMO 1st Art!
Holly Beetham
[phone]
[e-mail]

BMO Financial Group
Beja Rodeck, Toronto
[phone]
[e-mail]

Valerie Doucet, Montreal
[phone]
[e-mail]

Laurie Grant, Vancouver
[phone]
[e-mail]