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Art Matters.
Canada's largest student-run arts festival.

2024

February 24th to March 31st.

The themes of this year’s festival are play and process. The themes address our desire to facilitate spaces that encourage creation and connection outside of arbitrary restrictions of what we may have been taught art is “supposed” to be. We are giving each other permission to play, to express ourselves freely. This year’s festival seeks to produce an artistic sandbox that fosters interdisciplinary connection, honors creation in all its stages, and encourages our community to be curious.

Art Matters 2024 honors the liminal space between conception and realization, where anything is possible and rules are ambiguous or cease to exist. How can we engage with who we were and what it means to be an artist as a child, outside of any internally or societally imposed limitations on creativity?

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I ask the layers what they want

I ask the layers what they want

Please Speak to the Material
28 Feb
11:30 am
to
8 Mar
5:30 pm
at
Pierre François Ouellette Art Contemporain
Cruising Ground

Cruising Ground

Please Speak to the Material
28 Feb
11:30 am
to
8 Mar
5:30 pm
at
Pierre François Ouellette Art Contemporain
Ocean Simulation

Ocean Simulation

Please Speak to the Material
28 Feb
11:30 am
to
8 Mar
5:30 pm
at
Pierre François Ouellette Art Contemporain
Robbing Peter To Pay Paul

Robbing Peter To Pay Paul

Please Speak to the Material
28 Feb
11:30 am
to
8 Mar
5:30 pm
at
Pierre François Ouellette Art Contemporain
Memory Thread

Memory Thread

Please Speak to the Material
28 Feb
11:30 am
to
8 Mar
5:30 pm
at
Pierre François Ouellette Art Contemporain
Lint, Flour, Thread and a Domestic Sparrow

Lint, Flour, Thread and a Domestic Sparrow

Please Speak to the Material
28 Feb
11:30 am
to
8 Mar
5:30 pm
at
Pierre François Ouellette Art Contemporain
Sequia

Sequia

Labours of Love, Intentional Worlds
28 Feb
12:00 pm
to
9 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Produit Rien
The Dress

The Dress

Labours of Love, Intentional Worlds
28 Feb
12:00 pm
to
9 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Produit Rien
Bouquet

Bouquet

Labours of Love, Intentional Worlds
28 Feb
12:00 pm
to
9 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Produit Rien
The places living within

The places living within

Labours of Love, Intentional Worlds
28 Feb
12:00 pm
to
9 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Produit Rien
 La tour

La tour

Labours of Love, Intentional Worlds
28 Feb
12:00 pm
to
9 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Produit Rien
“愛丽" (ai li)

“愛丽" (ai li)

Labours of Love, Intentional Worlds
28 Feb
12:00 pm
to
9 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Produit Rien
Web Work

Web Work

Labours of Love, Intentional Worlds
28 Feb
12:00 pm
to
9 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Produit Rien
Art Matters Festival x FASA Opening Party

Art Matters Festival x FASA Opening Party

Special Event
28 Feb
7:30 pm
to
28 Feb
11:59 pm
at
La Sala Rossa
Please Speak to the Material Vernissage

Please Speak to the Material Vernissage

Special Event
Please Speak to the Material
1 Mar
5:00 pm
to
1 Mar
7:30 pm
at
Pierre François Ouellette Art Contemporain
Labours of Love, Intentional Worlds Vernissage

Labours of Love, Intentional Worlds Vernissage

Special Event
Labours of Love, Intentional Worlds
7 Mar
6:00 pm
to
7 Mar
9:00 pm
at
Produit Rien
Perfect Star

Perfect Star

Clairvoyant Creatures
8 Mar
7:00 pm
to
8 Mar
10:00 pm
at
Centaur Theatre Gallery
untitled

untitled

Clairvoyant Creatures
8 Mar
7:00 pm
to
8 Mar
10:00 pm
at
Centaur Theatre Gallery
Lakba ni Bakla

Lakba ni Bakla

Clairvoyant Creatures
8 Mar
7:00 pm
to
8 Mar
10:00 pm
at
Centaur Theatre Gallery
How to Talk to God in Vietnamese

How to Talk to God in Vietnamese

Clairvoyant Creatures
8 Mar
7:00 pm
to
8 Mar
10:00 pm
at
Centaur Theatre Gallery
Clairvoyant Creatures

Clairvoyant Creatures

Clairvoyant Creatures
Special Event
8 Mar
7:00 pm
to
8 Mar
10:00 pm
at
Centaur Theatre Gallery
Scissors Coming Close to My Five Strand Braid

Scissors Coming Close to My Five Strand Braid

Luxury Goods, Luxury Bads
13 Mar
12:00 pm
to
23 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Produit Rien
n-spiritual persona

n-spiritual persona

Luxury Goods, Luxury Bads
13 Mar
12:00 pm
to
23 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Produit Rien
When Everybody is Watching

When Everybody is Watching

Luxury Goods, Luxury Bads
13 Mar
12:00 pm
to
23 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Produit Rien
Cherry

Cherry

Luxury Goods, Luxury Bads
13 Mar
12:00 pm
to
23 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Produit Rien
cochinilla/aguacate

cochinilla/aguacate

Luxury Goods, Luxury Bads
13 Mar
12:00 pm
to
23 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Produit Rien
Lemons and Lace

Lemons and Lace

Luxury Goods, Luxury Bads
13 Mar
12:00 pm
to
23 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Produit Rien
Made of Candela

Made of Candela

Luxury Goods, Luxury Bads
13 Mar
12:00 pm
to
23 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Produit Rien
when my friend got hit by a car, she couldn't play on the carpet with us

when my friend got hit by a car, she couldn't play on the carpet with us

Loose Threads
14 Mar
12:00 pm
to
23 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Ada X
Peculiar Dance

Peculiar Dance

Loose Threads
14 Mar
12:00 pm
to
23 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Ada X
To Stitch Your Dreams With Thread

To Stitch Your Dreams With Thread

Loose Threads
14 Mar
12:00 pm
to
26 Feb
6:00 pm
at
Ada X
The Sun Shifts Across Nine Panes // The Brightest Colour

The Sun Shifts Across Nine Panes // The Brightest Colour

Loose Threads
14 Mar
12:00 pm
to
23 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Ada X
Retours (père)

Retours (père)

Loose Threads
14 Mar
12:00 pm
to
23 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Ada X
Vestige

Vestige

Loose Threads
14 Mar
12:00 pm
to
23 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Ada X
Loose Threads Vernissage

Loose Threads Vernissage

Special Event
Loose Threads
14 Mar
6:00 pm
to
14 Mar
9:00 pm
at
Ada X
Luxury Goods, Luxury Bads Vernissage

Luxury Goods, Luxury Bads Vernissage

Special Event
Luxury Goods, Luxury Bads
15 Mar
6:00 pm
to
15 Mar
9:00 pm
at
Produit Rien
The life and death (and life again) of a soft animal

The life and death (and life again) of a soft animal

One Step Back, Two Steps Forward
17 Mar
12:30 pm
to
23 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Galerie Jano Lapin
Simple Dream /حلم بصيت

Simple Dream /حلم بصيت

One Step Back, Two Steps Forward
17 Mar
12:30 pm
to
23 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Galerie Jano Lapin
To Squish Back Inside Myself

To Squish Back Inside Myself

One Step Back, Two Steps Forward
17 Mar
12:30 pm
to
23 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Galerie Jano Lapin
Tentative d'évasion

Tentative d'évasion

One Step Back, Two Steps Forward
17 Mar
12:30 pm
to
23 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Galerie Jano Lapin
Playing in the Garden

Playing in the Garden

One Step Back, Two Steps Forward
17 Mar
12:30 pm
to
23 Mar
6:00 pm
at
Galerie Jano Lapin
Christian

Christian

The Student Experience
18 Mar
9:00 am
to
30 Mar
9:00 pm
at
VAV Gallery
Please flip through my thoughts and memories

Please flip through my thoughts and memories

The Student Experience
18 Mar
9:00 am
to
30 Mar
9:00 pm
at
VAV Gallery
Portrait of Loyola with Stars and Goblins

Portrait of Loyola with Stars and Goblins

The Student Experience
18 Mar
9:00 am
to
30 Mar
9:00 pm
at
VAV Gallery
Little Land

Little Land

The Student Experience
18 Mar
9:00 am
to
30 Mar
9:00 pm
at
VAV Gallery
Chug! Chug! // Rub-a-dub-dub

Chug! Chug! // Rub-a-dub-dub

The Student Experience
18 Mar
9:00 am
to
30 Mar
9:00 pm
at
VAV Gallery
Wishes for humanity

Wishes for humanity

The Student Experience
18 Mar
9:00 am
to
30 Mar
9:00 pm
at
VAV Gallery
The Student Experience Vernissage

The Student Experience Vernissage

Special Event
The Student Experience
21 Mar
6:30 pm
to
21 Mar
9:30 pm
at
VAV Gallery
One Step Back, Two Steps Forward Finissage

One Step Back, Two Steps Forward Finissage

Special Event
One Step Back, Two Steps Forward
23 Mar
5:00 pm
to
23 Mar
9:00 pm
at
Galerie Jano Lapin
Memes & Machines Vernissage

Memes & Machines Vernissage

Special Event
Memes & Machines
30 Mar
3:00 pm
to
30 Mar
5:30 pm
at
Cinema De Sève
Queering the Machine

Queering the Machine

Memes & Machines
30 Mar
3:00 pm
to
30 Mar
7:00 pm
at
Cinema De Sève
DIY Clear Glitter Slime Tutorial (No Borax!)

DIY Clear Glitter Slime Tutorial (No Borax!)

Memes & Machines
30 Mar
3:00 pm
to
30 Mar
7:00 pm
at
Cinema De Sève
Memes from a God

Memes from a God

Memes & Machines
30 Mar
3:00 pm
to
30 Mar
7:00 pm
at
Cinema De Sève
handsvideo_me_20231015_Montreal.mp4

handsvideo_me_20231015_Montreal.mp4

Memes & Machines
30 Mar
3:00 pm
to
30 Mar
7:00 pm
at
Cinema De Sève
New Folder

New Folder

Memes & Machines
30 Mar
3:00 pm
to
30 Mar
7:00 pm
at
Cinema De Sève
Memes & Machines Artist Talk

Memes & Machines Artist Talk

Special Event
Memes & Machines
30 Mar
5:30 pm
to
30 Mar
7:00 pm
at
Cinema De Sève

Who we are

Meet the dedicated team of curators, artists, and visionaries who have tirelessly collaborated to bring this year's Art Matters Festival to life. Their diverse backgrounds and shared passion for innovation have created a vibrant, inclusive event that celebrates every stage of the artistic process.

Jen Jack

Exhibitions Coordinator

Jen Jack

Ari Inceer

Digital Print & Media Coordinator

Ari Inceer

Inka Kennepohl

Admin Assistant

Inka Kennepohl

Dina Karevan

Communications Assistant

Dina Karevan

Yann Pariot

Graphic Designer

Yann Pariot

Shayne La Rocque

Web Developer

Shayne La Rocque

Jenna Wilson

Chair of Board of Directors

Jenna Wilson

Maxime Gagnon - Chretien

Translator

Maxime Gagnon - Chretien

Meseret Abebe

Event Staff Coordinator

Meseret Abebe

Béatrice Pelletier

Photographer

Béatrice Pelletier

Juliana Young

English Copy Editor

Juliana Young

Yasmeen Qureshi

French Copy Editor

Yasmeen Qureshi

Renee Barnes

Technical Director

Renee Barnes

Valentina Tsilimidos

Technician

Valentina Tsilimidos

Imogen Lapp

Technician

Imogen Lapp

Rory Jay Liebmann

Technician

Rory Jay Liebmann

Rory Patoka

Technician

Rory Patoka

Bailey Parkinson

Facilitator

Bailey Parkinson

Adey Singer

Facilitator

Adey Singer

Renee Mathews

Facilitator

Renee Mathews

Elena Martin

Facilitator

Elena Martin

Ev Ricky

Facilitator

Ev Ricky

Aidan Matthews

Facilitator

Aidan Matthews

Ranime El Morry

Facilitator

Ranime El Morry

Rachel Kohler

Facilitator

Rachel Kohler

Emmy Voges

Facilitator

Emmy Voges

Anna Noel

Artist

Anna Noel

Antoine Vogler

Artist

Antoine Vogler

Hannah Louisy

Artist

Hannah Louisy

Jacob Lepp

Artist

Jacob Lepp

April Steffek

Artist

April Steffek

Justine Béliveau

Artist

Justine Béliveau

Madeline Qurina

Artist

Madeline Qurina

Aly Turgeon

Artist

Aly Turgeon

Rena Adell Eyamie

Artist

Rena Adell Eyamie

Coco Mariano Bakla

Artist

Coco Mariano Bakla

Steph Herbert

Artist

Steph Herbert

Thiên-Thi Nguyen

Artist

Thiên-Thi Nguyen

Alexia Paz Escobar

Artist

Alexia Paz Escobar

Iman Fakhouri

Artist

Iman Fakhouri

Vân Thúy Lê

Artist

Vân Thúy Lê

Ramona Hallemans

Artist

Ramona Hallemans

Gabrielle Desalliers

Artist

Gabrielle Desalliers

Allegra Hu

Artist

Allegra Hu

Sophie Desmarais

Artist

Sophie Desmarais

Isabel Saldana

Artist

Isabel Saldana

Noémie Carrier

Artist

Noémie Carrier

Leonardo Morales Vega

Artist

Leonardo Morales Vega

Sarah Stein

Artist

Sarah Stein

Isabela Markus Nafarrate

Artist

Isabela Markus Nafarrate

Eli Bjedov-Stankovic

Artist

Eli Bjedov-Stankovic

Jenn Amankrah

Artist

Jenn Amankrah

Simone Joiner

Artist

Simone Joiner

Mahalia Thompson-Onichino

Artist

Mahalia Thompson-Onichino

Margaux Domec

Artist

Margaux Domec

Nesreen Galal

Artist

Nesreen Galal

Ariane Duplessis

Artist

Ariane Duplessis

Cassia Haumont

Artist

Cassia Haumont

Ignacio Mendizábal

Artist

Ignacio Mendizábal

Isabelle Gerrie

Artist

Isabelle Gerrie

Kristina Kelly

Artist

Kristina Kelly

Sandra Michaud

Artist

Sandra Michaud

Anakin Boucher

Artist

Anakin Boucher

Marie-Ann Laroche

Artist

Marie-Ann Laroche

Colin Chae

Artist

Colin Chae

Ibrahim Mahmoud

Artist

Ibrahim Mahmoud

Barbara Reddick

Artist

Barbara Reddick

Celina Chalhoub

Artist

Celina Chalhoub

Kaylen Schumann

Artist

Kaylen Schumann

Stéphanie Bourgault

Artist

Stéphanie Bourgault

Maria Jaramillo

Artist

Maria Jaramillo

Cat Lipiec

Artist

Cat Lipiec

Valeria Ortize

Artist

Valeria Ortize

Stella Mazurek

Artist

Stella Mazurek

Alejandra Parra

Artist

Alejandra Parra

What we value

1

Commitment to Anti-Oppression

Art Matters recognizes and seeks to challenge institutionalized oppression, creating safe spaces for artists and community members. We are dedicated to addressing systemic oppression and colonial practices.

2

Inclusivity and Respect

We strive to promote values of inclusion, respecting differences in ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, mental or physical capacity, age, religion, economic or social status, and political ideology.

3

Progressive Programming

Since 2018, we have been intentional about applying anti-oppression frameworks to our programming. This is an ongoing endeavor, and we are committed to learning and evolving with our allies.

4

Acknowledging Systemic Challenges

We acknowledge that everyone is capable of (re)producing systemic violence to ascend hierarchical structures. Our goal is to recognize and actively work against such dynamics in our community and programs.

Our commitment

WE

Uplift the voices of under-represented artists so that all students see themselves reflected in our festival programming;

Identify and challenge barriers to our programs and services;

Encourage thoughtful, carefully considered conversations about anti-oppression and decolonization with our members;

Build our capacity and the capacity of our network to challenge unequal distribution of power and biases that lead to oppression;

Support artists and educators who thoughtfully engage with traditional knowledge and stories in context;

Do not provide services to artists who practice cultural appropriation;

Do not encourage or promote works that are culturally unsafe and perpetuate systems of oppression;

Provide staff, board and volunteers with anti-oppression training tailored to their role;

Ensure staff, executives, board members and volunteers can challenge oppressive and colonial practices without harassment and discrimination;

Provide staff, board and volunteers with anti-oppression training tailored to their role;

Essential Information

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