Montreal – Brooklyn is a contemporary art event taking place between two influential centers of art. Featuring 40 exciting artists in 16 different galleries and museums, the event begins in Montreal and moves to Brooklyn early in 2013.

The project consists of a meeting between eight Brooklyn-based exhibition spaces and eight based in Montreal. Teamed in pairs, the art institutions will develop exhibition projects where Montréal and Brooklyn-based artists are put in touch with each other.

As a reflection of two vibrant artistic communities, Montreal – Brooklyn brings together different types of organizations: artist-run, non-profits, museums, private galleries and university art galleries. Nearly all partners will focus on high quality exhibitions, others, such as Articule, will organize performance events, while the Galerie de l’UQAM will present Videozones, a video compilation.

The Origins

While Montreal’s cultural exchanges have historically been euro-centric, the founders wanted to reposition their focus to Brooklyn, making collaboration more accessible.

Living and working as an artist in New York City is quite different from doing so in Montreal and the idea of sharing and discussing these cultural and artistic differences through exhibitions has proven to be an important motivating factor in the conception of Montreal – Brooklyn.

The Objectives

Montreal – Brooklyn will allow both audiences to learn about the issues that influence artistic production in these two cities. The hope is that this project creates stronger ties between these two neighboring areas, helping both to develop and establish international relationships. This event also seeks to foster strong, new ties and encourage connections and collaborations between artists and institutions.