Artexte Information Centre
Encyclopedia
The Artexte Information Centre (in French: Centre d'information Artexte) is an independent, federally chartered not-for-profit arts organization in Montreal
, Quebec, Canada. Its principal mandate is to focus on research, interpretation and dissemination initiatives in order to broaden the influence and appreciation of contemporary visual arts. These activities are informed by a significant collection of art documentation and authoritative resources, as well as a network of multidisciplinary partners. Artexte's partnerships and alliances are built with others who also seek to bring attention to the value of documentation produced by the study and practice of contemporary art
. Artexte affirms the presence of experimental, innovative and critical components of this field. Its activities touch on all aspects of contemporary visual art from 1965 to today, with special emphasis placed on Quebec
and Canada
.
Through its bilingual reference services and research assistance, the Centre provides a user-friendly interface between its collection and researchers from Canada and abroad.
In order to realize their objective of disseminating this information, the founders opened a documentation centre in Montreal
. They then created Artextes Editions, which today comprises about 20 titles. Finally, they set up a national service for the distribution of exhibition catalogues and independent publications on contemporary art. In 1997, this service was transferred to a private business specializing in the distribution of this type of document, ABC Art Books Canada.
In 1993, the bookstore moved into the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal
. Two years later Artexte let go of its bookstore operations, which were passed on to Librairie Olivieri in September 1995, under a partnership agreement respecting the initial objectives of the Information Centre's mandate.
In May 1996, Artexte moved to a larger space at 460 Sainte-Catherine Street West, where it still is today. This move marked the beginning of a new era for the organization and its users, by positioning Artexte within the heart of a network frequented by artists and researchers of contemporary art.
Artexte has become a renowned arts organization which, by the scope of its activities, responds with a high level of professionalism to the specific needs of the visual arts network in Canada and beyond.
The collection of Artexte is non-circulating.
Artexte's website includes several research tools for accessing documents in the collection.
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec, Canada. Its principal mandate is to focus on research, interpretation and dissemination initiatives in order to broaden the influence and appreciation of contemporary visual arts. These activities are informed by a significant collection of art documentation and authoritative resources, as well as a network of multidisciplinary partners. Artexte's partnerships and alliances are built with others who also seek to bring attention to the value of documentation produced by the study and practice of contemporary art
Contemporary art
Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
. Artexte affirms the presence of experimental, innovative and critical components of this field. Its activities touch on all aspects of contemporary visual art from 1965 to today, with special emphasis placed on Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Through its bilingual reference services and research assistance, the Centre provides a user-friendly interface between its collection and researchers from Canada and abroad.
History
Established in 1980 by art historian Francine Périnet and artists Angela Grauerholz and Anne Ramsden, Artexte Information Centre began as a bookstore specializing in Canadian and International contemporary art. The organization responded to an essential need in Quebec and Canada for up to date, accurate information on contemporary visual art.In order to realize their objective of disseminating this information, the founders opened a documentation centre in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. They then created Artextes Editions, which today comprises about 20 titles. Finally, they set up a national service for the distribution of exhibition catalogues and independent publications on contemporary art. In 1997, this service was transferred to a private business specializing in the distribution of this type of document, ABC Art Books Canada.
In 1993, the bookstore moved into the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal
Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal
The Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal is a contemporary art museum in the Place des Arts complex, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The collection includes over 7,000 works of art by more than 1,500 artists , covering contemporary art in Quebec in particular and Canada in general, as well as...
. Two years later Artexte let go of its bookstore operations, which were passed on to Librairie Olivieri in September 1995, under a partnership agreement respecting the initial objectives of the Information Centre's mandate.
In May 1996, Artexte moved to a larger space at 460 Sainte-Catherine Street West, where it still is today. This move marked the beginning of a new era for the organization and its users, by positioning Artexte within the heart of a network frequented by artists and researchers of contemporary art.
Artexte has become a renowned arts organization which, by the scope of its activities, responds with a high level of professionalism to the specific needs of the visual arts network in Canada and beyond.
Collection
The collection of Artexte Information Centre includes:- 20,000 publications and visual, audio or digital documents
- 10,000 documentation files for arts organizations, events, subjects and disciplines, etc.
- 4,000 Canadian artists’ files
- 3,000 non-Canadian artists’ files
- Canadian and foreign art periodicals
- special collections of artists’ publications including the MobilivreMobilivreThe MOBILIVRE-BOOKMOBILE project is a community arts initiative founded by the Bookmobile collective, a diverse group of emerging North American artists and community activists. Their mandate is to fuse artistic production with political activism and community organizing...
-Bookmobile Project collection of artists’ books, zines, multiples, etc., and "A Relatively Small Collection"
The collection of Artexte is non-circulating.
Access
The Documentation Centre is open to the public Wednesdays (10 am to 7pm), Thursdays and Fridays (10 am to 5:30 pm). Free of charge. Standard holidays apply.Artexte's website includes several research tools for accessing documents in the collection.
Activities
- Research residencies
- Publishing: Artextes Editions; Artexte Info
- Special projects: exhibitions and conferences
External links
- Canada CouncilCanada CouncilThe Canada Council for the Arts, commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown Corporation established in 1957 to act as an arts council of the government of Canada, created to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. It funds Canadian artists and...
for the Arts - Conseil des arts de Montréal
- Regroupement des centres d'artistes autogérés du Québec (RCAAQ)
- CARFACCARFACCanadian Artists’ Representation/ is a non-profit corporation that serves as the national voice of Canada's professional visual artists....
- Regroupement des artistes en arts visuels du Québec (RAAV)
- Centre for Contemporary Canadian Art (CCCA)
- Art MetropoleArt MetropoleArt Metropole was founded in 1974 by the Canadian artists' group General Idea as a not-for-profit corporation incorporated under the laws of the province of Ontario. It is located in Toronto, Canada....