The Museum Transformation
A key player in Québec’s art ecosystem and cultural offer, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC) is Canada’s largest and most important museum dedicated exclusively to contemporary art. Since 2018, it has been leading an ambitious transformation project to better address today’s challenges, embracing inclusion, accessibility, and openness.
The design conceived by the consortium Saucier + Perrotte and GLCRM Architectes is inspiring, luminous, and relevant; a decidedly contemporary structure fully coherent with the museum’s raison d’être. The building’s facade will be transformed for greater transparency with its surroundings, and the exhibition spaces, expanded and equipped with cutting-edge technology, will highlight the national collection. Education will be central to the new MAC, reinforcing its role in democratizing contemporary art.
In addition to creating important sociocultural spin-offs, the transformation of the MAC will inject new life into the downtown area and position the museum as a showcase for creativity and must-see destination at the heart of Place des Arts. Montréal will finally have a contemporary art museum worthy of its ambition, contributing to the city’s visibility and vibrant artistic community.
Worksite progress
April 2018
Approval of the design project by the jury.
August 2024
The famous cathedral windows of the Museum’s atrium are removed.
November 2024
The emblematic concrete facade is demolished, revealing the entire interior.
January 2028
Scheduled reopening of the MAC at Place des Arts.
Capital Campaign
The Fondation du Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (Fondation du MAC) has undertaken the most important fundraising campaign in its history to support the transformation of the MAC.
What a privilege it is to be at the forefront of this historic transformation of the MAC! We look forward to welcoming contemporary art lovers to this new setting, which will allow it to embrace its full potential as Canada's most important contemporary art museum, driven more than ever by inspiration, innovation and daring.
Art is the very essence of our identity, and we need a reinvented MAC, one that reflects our ambitions and is future-thinking. A new chapter in the history of contemporary art is unfolding in Montreal and together, we have the power to drive this change and lead the MAC to embrace its transformation.
This major transformation of the MAC will increase its surface area with expansive, modern, and luminous new spaces. All will help set the stage for creating an inspiring space dedicated to celebrating our cultural heritage. Contemporary art has the power to stimulate our minds and our emotions. Together, we will make the museum a must-see destination by designing a more accessible and inclusive venue that looks to the future while honoring our rich heritage. In doing so, even more people than ever will be able to participate and engage in the world of contemporary art here in Montreal.
With this transformation, the MAC will become a Canadian contemporary art icon, and a reflection of Montréal and its boundless creativity. Not only through its innovative exhibitions but also by the way it interacts and engages with its audiences.
By amplifying everything that makes this museum exceptional, the new building points to a thrilling trajectory. I love that it is accessible to so many people, and I hope that more people than ever have the chance to discover and enjoy this cultural gem of Montréal.
The MAC is a space where different experiences intersect and connect. The transformed MAC will become a world-class platform for creating and showcasing thought-provoking, challenging, unstable and ambitious art and performances.