In Quebec, the “Espace Riopelle” strengthens the identity of the museum

Quebec. In Quebec, where the defense of a distinct cultural identity occupies a central place, the opening of the new “Espace Riopelle – Michael-Audain pavilion” goes beyond the sole tribute to an artist. This extension of the National Museum of Fine Arts of Quebec (MNBAQ), inaugurated on October 21, is added to a heterogeneous ensemble located in a natural and historical site near the St. Lawrence River, the Battlefields Park.

Replacing a building which connected the different parts of the museum, it is dedicated to a Quebec artist (born in 1923, died in 2002) undoubtedly the best known in the world. “ (Jean Paul) Riopelle himself had considered setting up his foundation in the site’s former prison, today one of the museum’s pavilions.explains the director of the museum, Jean-Luc Murray, in a video interview with The Arts Journal. Stating: “Here in Quebec it’s almost an identity project. » The MNBAQ, founded in 1933, has the mandate to preserve, study and promote Quebec art (collections of Inuit art, ancient, modern and contemporary art), while remaining open to Canadian and international art.

“We have the most beautiful public collection of Riopelle in the world, we started it in 1956,” says the director. It includes 504 works, including more than 130 currently exhibited in the new space and 37 which were donated by Michael Audain and his wife. Michael Audain (89 years old) is at the heart of the history of this extension, which also bears his name. This patron contributed 91 million Canadian dollars (€58 million) in works and cash to make the project happen. “He kindly told us: I absolutely want this project to be done before I leave,” says Jean-Luc Murray.

This is one of the reasons which explain the speed with which the pavilion was built, compared to French realities. The contract with the Quebec architecture agency FABG was signed in April 2024, and work began a month later for delivery just thirty months later. “If it is true that we have experience in the construction of extensions, we must recognize that it is an achievement because we had barely emerged from Covid to enter into the tariff turbulence of our neighbor Trump, and then we decided to be the project managers! » The total cost of the work amounts to 84 million Canadian dollars (€57 million), 58% financed by the province of Canada and the capital of Quebec, the rest being financed by patrons. The pavilion adds 5,600 square meters to the total surface area of ​​the museum, bringing it to 32,000 m² (a little more than the surface area of ​​the Musée des Confluences in Lyon). The museum welcomes around 250,000 visitors per year. “We hope that this pavilion will increase the number of visitors,” discount Jean-Luc Murray, who will soon be one of them since at the end of the month he hands over to Anne Élisabeth Thibault.