Baie-Saint-Paul has long been a cultural capital where artists from here and away come to draw their inspiration. In the galleries, contemporary art needs no invitation to come inside! But within the walls of the Baie-Saint-Paul Museum of Contemporary Art is where you can stimulate your eye, big time. Did you know that the BSPMCA is the only regional museum of its kind? Not bad ‒ for a town of 7,800 residents! It should also be added that every year, Charlevoix welcomes over 850,000 visitors, a fair number of whom consider art to be a way of life.
The Museum’s brick edifice is downtown in the cultural quarters. Just wait to see what renowned Québec City architect Pierre Thibault did with the old Le Laurentien cinema. Its façade is adorned with immense glass panes that reflect the image of the neighbouring church’s bells. That alone is amazing. Inside, the use of space, the size of the display areas – and their content of course – is pure eye candy. The big hall dedicated to the memory of Françoise Labbé, the founder of la Corporation du Centre d’art in the mid-80s ‒ a major national exhibition centre showcasing Charlevoix’s artistic and cultural activities ‒ is where all major exhibitions are on display. You don’t want to miss Fenosa & Picasso ‒ A Friendship, this summer’s must-attend exhibition, here until November 6, on its North American
debut. Until this same date, you can also see Oser voir autrement : Les grands collectionneurs III, a phenomenal foray into the world of French Canadian collectors.
Looking for inspiration? Plunge into the universe of live art, for the entire month of August for the past 34 years, by visiting the International Symposium on Contemporary Art. This year’s event welcomes 12 contemporary artists from Québec, Canada, the United-States, France, Switzerland and Senegal. The Symposium even features Sur le motif together with Le Sentier de l’Art ‒ or the Art Trail ‒ a photo exhibition & walking tour featuring 31 outdoor art exhibits across town. Dynamic and deeply inspiring!
