MOMENTA Biennale d’art contemporain happens every two years in Montréal, a not-to-be-missed event that brings out the public into the city’s museums, galleries, and artist-run centres. Activities include exhibitions, public events, and educational workshops featuring both local and international artists whose works inspire curiosity and reflection.

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MOMENTA’s activities take place on stolen, unceded territories of the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation. These lands and waterways have long served as a meeting site for many Nations, including the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Huron/Wendat, the Abenaki, and the Anishinaabeg (Algonquin). Even today, these lands are the home of Indigenous peoples from across the globe who gather here in beauty. Tiohtià:ke/Mooniyang/Montreal has a deep colonial history that persists today in many ways; we stand in solidarity with the Indigenous nations that have fought to protect their sovereignty and the land over the years. It is the biennial’s privilege to be able to work and present in this territory. We do our best to dismantle colonial harm wherever possible.

Although we recognize that simply acknowledging the land and waterways that have been stewarded by Indigenous nations since time immemorial is not in itself enough, we strive to ensure ongoing accountability for work done on these lands and to nurture and uphold anti-colonial frameworks. We are grateful to the guardians of the land, whose stewardship allows these relationships to continue; to the numerous Indigenous artists with whom the organization had conversations as its activities were formulated; and to the people who generously share their works with the team and with the public.

This territorial acknowledgment is adapted from the acknowledgment developed by the curators of the 2021 edition of the Biennial, Stefanie Hessler, Camille Georgeson-Usher, and Himali Singh Soin. We thank them for their engagement and attention.

MOMENTA is a contemporary art biennial whose mission is to stimulate meaningful and engaged reflection about society. Its finely tuned, thematic programming is expressed through the works of the local and international artists it exhibits. MOMENTA takes place in various significant venues around the Montréal art scene, making it an essential event for both the art community and the general public.

MOMENTA Biennale d’art contemporain operates in a world marred by political, social, and environmental crises, wherein art cannot be separated from the realities that surround us. As such, we believe it is essential to examine and evolve our institutional frameworks in order to reduce the inequalities that persist within cultural institutions. We are committed to driving measurable social change and fostering a more equitable, responsible, and supportive community. Aware that this work requires constant vigilance, we base our actions on a process of continuous reflection and questioning so that our commitments never become set in stone.

MOMENTA is committed to:

• Reducing inequities: Proactively combating all forms of discrimination.
• Promoting self-determination: Supporting the autonomy of creators through decolonial and intersectional perspectives.
• Practicing cooperation: Bridging divides, sharing knowledge, and remaining close to artists and communities.

Through concrete actions to reduce our environmental footprint and outreach that makes visual arts accessible, we are working to build relationships based on shared memory. Our dedication is shown through our active support for the social struggles that highlight today's most pressing issues, particularly those of Indigenous peoples, women, 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and people who are differently abled. It is also expressed through sustained attention and support of movements that denounce systemic violence and violations of fundamental human rights, such as Black Lives Matter and Every Child Matters. As we witness numerous genocides unfolding, including the one in Gaza, we express our solidarity with Palestine and with all local and international movements calling for dignity, freedom, and self-determination for their people.

Founded in 1989 as Le Mois de la Photo à Montreal, the organization was renamed MOMENTA Biennale d'art contemporain for its 15th edition, in 2017. The first Mois de la Photo à Montreal was organized by VOX, centre de l’image contemporaine in 1989 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of photography. Until 2002, VOX was responsible for holding the event. In September 2002, it became an autonomous corporation. The change in administration was followed by the adoption of a new artistic direction concept. For every biennial, a curator is invited to propose a contemporary theme around which a series of exhibitions, a catalogue, and many public activities are produced. Between 20 and 40 artists from Canada and abroad are selected and their works are presented in 15 partner venues throughout the city. 

info@momentabiennale.com
+1.514.390.0383

MOMENTA Biennale d'art contemporain
5445 de Gaspé Avenue, #611
Montreal (Quebec) H2T 3B2
Canada

Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm