MEM Inauguration 2023

MEM – Center of Montreal Memories

September 28, 2023

The City of Montreal inaugurated the brand new MEM – Center des memories montrealaises, a museum dedicated to Montreal.

The new MEM continues the activities of the Montreal History Center (CHM) in an entirely new building in the heart of the Montreal's Quartier des spectacles, at the corner of Saint-Laurent Boulevard and Sainte-Catherine Street with a new address 1210 Blvd Saint-Laurent.

MEM's new 21,603 ft2 (2,007 m2) space highlights the riches and unique character of Montreal of yesterday and today. It preserves and displays many communities' stories that made it possible to write the great history of the city. Those individual stories preserved by the Montreal's many various communities were transformed by the museum along with the direct Montreal's inhabitants collaboration into audio and visual presentations. Visitors will discover previously untold stories, surprising testimonies, emblematic artifacts and everyday objects used in the past.

The MEM is inaugurating its new space in which the visitors will be able to find:

• Free public spaces which allow the discovery or rediscovery of the city's identity elements;
• A temporary exhibition: Détours - Urban encounters, produced in collaboration with URBANIA;
• A temporary (displayed for 3 months) citizen exhibition: Celebrating Le Chaînon: 90 years of dedication to women, created with the Le Chaînon Foundation;
• A cabaret offering a varied program;
• A boutique café specializing in the sale of products made in Montreal;
• Cultural activities, some of which take place outside the walls, such as citizen bicycles and the Dialogue with Chinatown exhibition;
• Educational activities for young people of all ages;
• Original and contemporary rental spaces;
• Spectacular views of the city.

The permanent Montreal exhibition will be inaugurated at a later date. It will explore the city's multiple identities through the eyes and words of its citizens, while highlighting Montreal's diversity.

Unusual spaces and rich programming

The MEM's public spaces are directly inspired by the nomenclature of everyday urban places, with among others a "public square", a "terrace", an "alley" and a "belvedere" with a spectacular view of the Esplanade Tranquille. Accessible free of charge, starting on October 6, 2023 and according to MEM opening hours, they will welcome all visitors.

However, the upcoming permanent exhibitions will require the purchase of a ticket.

The MEM is aimed at the entire Montreal population interested in discovering Montreal from various angles. The MEM's cultural programming celebrates the city, citizen participation and current events, while retaining a human character. Educational programs will be offered to primary and secondary school students to develop their sensitivity to openness and diversity and equip them to become curious about their city, its issues and its history. Tourists and other people passing through the metropolis will also be able to discover all in one place several identity features specific to Montreal.

A work of public art

Created by the artist Raphaëlle de Groot at the end of a participatory process that involved more than 350 people, the sculptural work inaugurated at the MEM, The constellations of the hippocampus (See two photos just above), is inspired by the functioning of memory. Its form evokes the mission of the museum as an organ contributing to a circuit of memory connected to the city and the people who inhabit it. It is installed in the MEM Cabaret and will be the subject of mediation activities in the years to come. As a part of the municipal public art collection, the installation was created with financial support from the Government of Quebec and the City of Montreal, as part of the Montreal Cultural Development Agreement.

MEM is an accessible and inclusive museum.

The spaces and contents of the MEM were developed with citizen accessibility and inclusion committees in order to allow as many people as possible to experience the museum.

MEM staff are trained to welcome all visitors, according to their specific needs.

Quotes

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante:

“I am very proud to inaugurate the MEM – Montreal Memories Centre, which will offer the population and visitors an exceptional showcase to tell the history of the metropolis, in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles. Montreal is a city rich in its diversity, its excitement and its inhabitants, who directly contributed to the development of the project. It is a museum that will celebrate our history and that will always remain connected to the aspirations of the population.”

Ericka Alneus, the head of culture and heritage within the executive committee:

“It is with pleasure that I welcome this brand new addition to Montreal’s museums, which will quickly become an emblematic place in our metropolis. The MEM is a museum and civic space that celebrates Montrealers of yesterday and today by highlighting memories and testimonies. The institution collaborates with multiple passionate and committed citizen voices, with the aim of developing a cultural project reflecting the diverse realities of Montreal. The beauty of the place and the richness of the exhibitions will undoubtedly charm those who live in the city as much as the tourists and visitors who pass through.” 

 

To discover MEM and its programming click here. 

Click on Images to enlarge them.

All photos @ Nadia Slejskova

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