Concordia’s Faculty of Fine Arts celebrates the 2024 edition of Montreal’s oldest student-run festival, Art Matters

Concordia’s Faculty of Fine Arts is welcoming the return of the Art Matters festival.

This year’s events take place from February 27 to March 30. With a promise of enabling artistic liberation and boundless expression, the festival will feature approximately 70 artists across multiple Montreal galleries.

“Art Matters 2024 embodies the spirit of play and celebrates work in all its stages,” says Jen Jack, the festival’s exhibitions coordinator.

The festival aims to transcend conventional notions of art by fostering interdisciplinary connections and celebrating the journey from conception to realization.

“Our hope with this year’s programming is to subvert expectations and invigorate individuals across the university to engage with the incredible art being produced by Concordia’s undergraduate students,” Jack explains.

Art Matters 2024 has established partnerships with publications like Esse magazine, providing a platform for emerging and established artists alike.

“The Art Matters festival is a unique gem in Montreal, standing as the city’s oldest student-run festival,” adds Annie Gérin, dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts. “We take immense pride in that distinction.”

The festival programming will animate various local gallery and art spaces, including Produit Rien, Ada X, Pierre-Francois Ouellette Art Contemporain and Concordia’s VAV Gallery and J. A. DeSève Cinema.

Montreal’s Centaur Theatre will be host to a special one-night event in its gallery on March 8.

At the peak of the festival, attendees will have the opportunity to experience a residency-style exhibition at the Jano-Lapin Gallery from March 16 to March 23. The celebratory events will culminate in an evening featuring a screening and an artist talk at the DeSève venue on March 30, marking the grand finale of the festivities.

Last year’s festival drew between 1,000 and 1,250 attendees. Organizers say they are anticipating even higher participation for Art Matters 2024.

All art enthusiasts are invited to the opening party on February 28 at Montreal’s Sala Rossa, featuring performances from across Faculty of Fine Arts disciplines and to honour the festival’s celebration of art, exploration and imagination.

For more information and updates on Art Matters 2024, stay tuned to the Art Matters website, as well as Concordia Faculty of Fine Arts webpage and social media channels.