Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal facts for kids
The museum seen from Place des Festivals plaza
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| Established | 1964 |
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| Location | 1 Place Ville Marie Ouest Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Type | Art museum |
| Visitors | 241,527 (2011) |
| Public transit access |   at Place-des-Arts |
The Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal (MACM) is a special museum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It's all about contemporary art, which means art made in our time. You can find it in the Quartier des spectacles area, which is a lively part of the city for shows and events. It's also part of a bigger place called Place des Arts.
The MACM was started in 1964. It was the very first museum in Canada to focus only on contemporary art. Over the years, it moved to a few different spots before finding its current home at Place des Arts in 1992.
Contents
A Look Back: The MACM's Journey
The Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal was created in 1964. The government of Quebec started it. The MACM was the first place in Canada just for contemporary art.
Early Homes of the Museum
Before its current home, the museum was in three different places. From 1964 to 1965, it was at Place Ville-Marie. Then, from 1965 to 1968, it moved to the Château Dufresne. After that, it was at the Expo 67's art gallery until 1992.
In 1983, the museum became an independent organization. This meant it was managed by its own group of leaders.
Designing a New Home
Also in 1983, a big competition was held. Architects from all over the world shared ideas for a new museum building. More than 100 companies took part. In 1984, the design by Jodoin Lamarre Pratte & Associés was chosen.
On May 28, 1992, the museum opened its new building. It was located at Place des Arts in Downtown Montreal. This new spot is part of Canada's largest cultural area. It brings together both performing arts and visual arts. Almost 20,000 people visited the museum on its opening weekend.
A Special Artwork on the Roof
When the new building opened, a Quebec artist named Geneviève Cadieux created a special artwork. It's called "La Voie lactée" (The Milky Way). It's a huge photo of a pair of lips. You can see it on the roof of the museum building.
Future Plans for the Museum
In 2017, the museum decided to make some changes. People thought the building didn't fit well with the new Quartier des spectacles. So, the MACM started another competition to redesign and expand the building.
In 2018, a plan by Saucier+Perrotte Architectes was chosen. In 2021, the museum moved to a temporary spot at Place Ville-Marie. This is while the main building is being updated and made new.
Discovering the MACM's Art Collection
The MACM has a large and exciting collection of art. It focuses on art made in our time. The museum has over 7,000 artworks. These pieces are by more than 1,500 artists. Most of these artists are still alive today.
What Kind of Art Will You See?
The collection mainly features contemporary art from Quebec and Canada. But it also includes important artworks from artists around the world. You can see many types of art here. This includes modern paintings, sculptures, and photographs. There are also installations, which are artworks that fill a space. You might also see video art and works on paper.
Exploring the Exhibition Rooms
The museum has several rooms for showing its art. Four rooms are used for the permanent collection. Here, you can see artworks that show the main ideas and styles of contemporary art. Four other rooms are used for temporary exhibitions. These shows change often, so there's always something new to discover.
The MACM is unique in Canada. It is the only cultural place that focuses on both contemporary performing and visual arts.
