The Commission des arts, des lettres, de la culture et du patrimoine presents the status of ongoing cultural infrastructure projects
Sonia Roy
The Commission des arts, des lettres, de la culture et du patrimoine (CALCP) presented the status of cultural infrastructure projects currently under development in Gatineau on June 8. During a presentation organized by the Service des arts, de la culture et des lettres (SACL), the CALCP recalled its mandate, which is to "provide Gatineau with distinctive infrastructures to consolidate its status as a cultural city, to participate in the definition of its identity and image and to increase its citizens' sense of belonging", as well as its dedication to the cultural vitality of Gatineau. Following this introduction, the Commission discussed the realization of the following projects:
Les Ateliers du Ruisseau
This project for a cultural centre for visual arts, crafts and digital arts will be built at the corner of Papineau and Morin streets, in the Hull-Wright district, near Montcalm Boulevard. The building will have five floors including a mezzanine for exhibitions and cultural mediation activities, as well as a space dedicated to the sale of works. The three upper floors will be available to artists and citizens of the Outaouais, who will be able to practice art, artistic creation and studio production. Finally, this project foresees the relocation of the Montcalm Gallery to the future Ateliers du Ruisseau in 2025, following the completion of the construction in 2024.
Gatineau Performing Arts Centre
Renovation of Building 9 at 100 Gamelin Street, which will become the Gatineau Centre for the Performing Arts, is scheduled to begin in 2024, with the addition of an annex in 2026. The centre, which will be equipped with modern facilities to allow local artists to practice their craft at an affordable cost, will be established in an old heritage building.
Musée régional de l'Outaouais
As part of an effort to preserve local heritage, the Musée régional de l'Outaouais is an initiative supported by the Gatineau and Outaouais Heritage Network since 2016. The Museum, whose location should be chosen in 2023 in downtown Gatineau, will be entirely dedicated to the study, exhibition and sharing of the region's heritage and history.
Espace Bleu de l’Outaouais
In collaboration with the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications, the Société québécoise des infrastructures, and the Musée de la civilisation de Québec, the Espace Bleu will be part of a network of 17 heritage buildings dedicated to the preservation of history throughout Quebec. The Espace bleu, which will feature a permanent exhibition highlighting the history of the Outaouais, a food counter distributing local products as well as a multifunctional room, will be built in tandem with the Musée régional de l'Outaouais.
The Great Library
A City of Gatineau project, the Great Library is expected to be established in downtown Gatineau, although the exact location and timeline have not yet been determined. The Great Library will include state-of-the-art digital reading facilities, as well as workrooms, multimedia rooms, children's rooms, and a support service for seniors, newcomers and job seekers.
Expansion of the Filature building
Expansion work will be carried out at the Filature, which currently operates from 82 Hanson Street, where the AXENÉO7 artist-run centre and the DAÏMON production centre are located. Starting in 2023, additional pavilions, which will house individual studios as well as multimedia rooms, will be built behind the current building.
Finally, the Service des arts, de la culture et des lettres and CALCP concluded this presentation, led by Isabelle N. Miron (municipal councillor for the Orée-du-Parc district) and Josée Bellemare (director of the SACL), by sharing a summary of what is expected of the City of Gatineau in these projects (financing, support, donation of land and/or project manager). The next session will be held on September 14, 2022.
Photo caption: L'Espace Bleu pictured
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Government of Quebec