Green light for Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal expansion in the form of $18.9 million from the Québec government

MONTREAL, Feb. 24, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - When tabling the 2014-2015 provincial budget last Thursday, February 20, Nicolas Marceau, Québec's Minister of Finance and the Economy, confirmed that the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal (MAC) expansion project had been given the go-ahead and will receive an $18.9-million government contribution. Alexandre Taillefer, Chair of the MAC Board of Trustees, declared: "We are delighted with this confirmation from the Québec government, which gives us a very tangible foundation for carrying out our project. This support is timely in that it comes a few weeks after the announcement of a $550,000 grant for us to produce a business case designed to specify the scope, budget and time line for this endeavour."

John Zeppetelli, Director and Chief Curator of the Musée, added: "We are really proud to see our project receive this much-awaited funding commitment; this support is of vital importance to the MAC, as well as to the entire cultural and arts community, both in Montréal and across Québec."

As a result of this expansion, the museum will be able to double its exhibition spaces, display more works from the Permanent Collection, increase the flexibility of its facilities to accommodate current artistic practices and several exhibitions at the same time, build a truly multipurpose auditorium, improve accessibility to the MAC's educational activities and generate a real interconnection with Place des Arts and the Quartier des Spectacles.

Today, the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal Collection comprises more than 7,600 works, only 1.5% of which can be exhibited, for lack of space. The expansion will not only allow the MAC to become more financially autonomous, but will also ensure the museum's continuing viability in the coming years. The project is scheduled for completion in 2017. The MAC, which is Canada's premier museum dedicated exclusively to contemporary art, will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2014.

Finally, Mr. Taillefer observed that the Québec government's commitment clearly demonstrates that art is a key component of our society and expressed the hope that the federal government would offer the same commitment.

The Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal has contributed to the city's cultural, artistic and tourist reputation and influence for five decades now. With this expansion project, it will be properly equipped to become an essential site for showcasing contemporary art at a time of growing interest in today's art, both nationally and internationally.

Acknowledgments
The Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal is a provincially owned corporation funded by the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec. It receives additional funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Canada Council for the Arts. The museum gratefully acknowledges their support and that of Collection Loto-Québec, the MAC's principal partner. The MAC also thanks its media partner, La Presse +.

SOURCE: Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal

Wanda Palma
Head of Public Relations
514 847 6232