La Biennale de Montréal 2009 focuses on open culture, the theme proposed by its creative director Scott Burnham, integrating the different artistic practices by bringing together artists from the fields of visual arts, architecture, landscape architecture, graphic/object design, music, video and cinema. In addition to serving as a showcase for contemporary art, La Biennale de Montréal 2009 is also a place for exchange and debate, via symposiums and conferences.

BNL MTL 09 is produced by the Centre international d’art contemporain de Montréal and put forth by its artistic and executive director Claude Gosselin.

The Centre international d’art contemporain de Montréal (CIAC) is a non-profit organization run by a team of art professionals in the fields of conservation, education, communications and administration.

The CIAC is an office for contemporary art, it is not an exhibition centre. According to the needs, different venues are used: galleries, museums, exhibitions centres, warehouse, parks, vacant spaces.

The CIAC was created in 1983, with a mandate to organize exhibitions and events related to contemporary art, to produce written and audio-visual documents, and to welcome the general public with commented visits and conferences. CIAC’s office organizes the production and dissemination of works by professional artists from Quebec, Canada and abroad.

The CIAC was three times awarded the Prix des arts visuels by the Conseil des arts de Montréal, in 1985, 1992 and 2001.

In 2004, the CIAC celebrated its 20th anniversary. During those 20 years, over 500,000 people have seen and appreciated the work of nearly 800 artists from here and abroad.

From 1985 to 1996, the CIAC held the Cent jours d’art contemporain de Montréal, an international annual event which won a reputation for excellence in Quebec and abroad. The last (11th) edition of the Cent jours was held in 1996, making way for the Biennale de Montréal in 1998.

For more information, visit www.ciac.ca