Monday, December 16, 2024 — Imagine the year 1985: René Lévesque is the Prime Minister of Quebec. Voluminous hairstyles and Madonna are in vogue. Ian Carr-Harris and Liz Magor recently represented Canada at the prestigious Venice Biennale. In Montreal, the Musée d’art contemporain is still housed in the Galerie internationale des arts, located in the 1967 World’s Fair pavilion in Cité du Havre. It is within this vibrant context that the Contemporary Art Galleries Association (AGAC) was founded.
In 2025, AGAC will proudly celebrate its 40th anniversary, a significant milestone that reflects its pivotal role in the landscape of Canadian contemporary art. Since its founding in 1985, the Association has established itself as a leading organization, committed to supporting its member galleries and contributing to the prosperity of the contemporary art market.
“As we approach this anniversary year, AGAC proudly reflects on all that we have accomplished and reaffirms its commitment to the innovation, creativity, and collaboration that drive our ecosystem. In a world where trends are ever-changing, the role of the gallerist remains a constant, a fundamental pillar in supporting artists and sharing their work with the public. These 40 years offer a unique opportunity to celebrate our successes, but also to reaffirm our determination to elevate our galleries, which are at the core of everything we do,” stated Anie Deslauriers, AGAC’s Director.
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Four decades of bold projects
Over the years, AGAC has distinguished itself through the diversity and boldness of its projects in Quebec and across Canada. In the 1990s, pioneering events such as the Entrée libre à l’art contemporain (ÉLAAC) art fair and Peinture Peinture laid the groundwork for innovative programming. These early initiatives paved the way for other significant projects in the following decades, including the Salon du printemps, the Rallye des galeries, the Visual Arts Gala, the Pierre-Ayot and Louis-Comtois Awards, Toronto’s Feature Art Fair, and the Art Market Forum.
However, it was in 2007 that the organization took a decisive step with the first edition of Papier Contemporary Art Fair, held at Westmount Square. Quickly, Papier became the second most important art fair in Canada, providing an essential platform for artists and galleries across the country. In 2023, after fifteen successful editions, the fair adopted a new identity under the name Plural. This transformation reflected a renewed ambition: to broaden the fair’s horizons by embracing a greater diversity of mediums and perspectives, capturing the spirit of the times with brilliance and boldness.
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Upcoming initiatives: communications and a booth at Plural
To celebrate this milestone in a memorable way, a series of initiatives will take place throughout 2025. Among them, we will revisit key moments from our journey by delving into our image archives and sharing testimonials on our social media and in our newsletter. Not-to-be-missed: we will be showcasing a special booth dedicated to AGAC’s 40th anniversary at the third edition of Plural taking place from April 11 to 13 at the Grand Quay in Montreal’s Old Port. The booth will feature a selection of never-before-seen archives, offering the public a unique chance to immerse themselves in our history. Stay tuned throughout 2025 to ensure you don’t miss anything!
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Plural will take place from April 11 to 13
AGAC is happy to announce the next edition of Plural Art Fair, which will take place from April 11 to 13, 2025, at the Grand Quay in Montreal’s Old Port!
This third edition will bring together some 40 galleries from across Canada, showcasing the exceptional work of more than 500 artists. Expected to attract nearly 10,000 visitors, Plural will be the perfect opportunity to discover and acquire the very best of Canadian contemporary art in a spectacular and enchanting setting.
In addition to the fair, the Plural Forum, located in the Grand Quay’s Pavilion, will enrich the event with diverse discussions and perspectives on current issues in contemporary art. The Forum’s program will include panel discussions, interviews, guided tours, and workshops, all led by art professionals from a wide range of backgrounds.
Stay tuned: the list of exhibitors will be announced in January!