Artexte Information Centre

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library_name = ARTEXTE
library_
location = Montreal (Quebec) Canada
established = 1980
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website = [http://www.artexte.ca www.artexte.ca]

ARTEXTE Information Centre

Artexte Information Centre (in French: Centre d'information "Artexte") is an independent, federally chartered not-for-profit arts organization with a principle mandate to focus on research, interpretation and dissemination initiatives in order to broaden the influence and appreciation of contemporary visual arts. These activities are informed by a significant collection of art documentation and authoritative resources, as well as a network of multidisciplinary partners. Artexte's partnerships and alliances are built with others who also seek to bring attention to the value of documentation produced by the study and practice of contemporary art. Artexte affirms the presence of experimental, innovative and critical components of this field. Its activities touch on all aspects of contemporary visual art from 1965 to today, with special emphasis placed on Quebec and Canada.

Through its bilingual reference services and research assistance, the Centre provides a user-friendly interface between its collection and researchers from Canada and abroad.

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History

Established in 1980 by art historian Francine Périnet and artists Angela Grauerholz and Anne Ramsden, Artexte Information Centre began as a bookstore specializing in Canadian and International contemporary art. The organization responded to an essential need in Quebec and Canada for up to date, accurate information on contemporary visual art.In order to realize their objective of disseminating this information, the founders opened a documentation centre in Montreal. They then created Artextes Editions, which today comprises about 20 titles. Finally, they set up a national service for the distribution of exhibition catalogues and independent publications on contemporary art. In 1997, this service was transferred to a private business specializing in the distribution of this type of document, ABC Art Books Canada.In 1993, the bookstore moved into the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal. Two years later Artexte let go of its bookstore operations, which were passed on to Librairie Olivieri in September 1995, under a partnership agreement respecting the initial objectives of the Information Centre's mandate.

In May 1996, Artexte moved to a larger space at 460 Sainte-Catherine Street West, where it still is today. This move marked the beginning of a new era for the organization and its users, by positioning Artexte within the heart of a network frequented by artists and researchers of contemporary art.

After twenty-seven years of existence, Artexte has become a renowned arts organization which, by the scope of its activities, responds with a high level of professionalism to the specific needs of the visual arts network in Canada and beyond.

Collection

The collection of Artexte Information Centre includes:

* 20,000 publications and visual, audio or digital documents
* 10,000 documentation files for arts organizations, events, subjects and disciplines, etc.
* 4,000 Canadian artists’ files
* 3,000 non-Canadian artists’ files
* Canadian and foreign art periodicals
* special collections of artists’ publications including the Mobilivre-Bookmobile Project collection of artists’ books, zines, multiples, etc.

The collection is non-circulating.

Access

The Documentation Centre is open to the public Wednesdays (noon to 7pm), Thursdays and Fridays (noon to 5:30 pm). Free of charge. Standard holidays apply.

[http://www.artexte.ca Artexte's website] includes several research tools for accessing documents in the collection.

The personnel of the Documentation Centre respond to research queries on location, via telephone [phone]), email ([e-mail]) or regular mail.

Activities

* Research residencies
* Publishing: Artextes Editions; "Artexte Info"
* Special projects: exhibitions and conferences

References

Léger, Danielle. “Le centre d’information Artexte: un mandat, et un parcours, atypiques.” "Essays in the History of Art Librarianship in Canada". ARLIS Canada, 2006. [http://www.arliscanada.ca/]

Léger, Danielle. “Le centre d’information Artexte : médi(t)ations autour du catalogue d’exposition et de la francophonie." "Art Libraries Journal " v. 21, n. 3, 1996.

External links

* [http://www.calq.gouv.qc.ca Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ)]

Canada Council for the Arts
* [http://www.artsmontreal.org/ Conseil des arts de Montréal]
* [http://www.rcaaq.org/ Regroupement des centres d'artistes autogérés du Québec (RCAAQ)]

CARFAC
* [http://www.raav.org Regroupement des artistes en arts visuels du Québec (RAAV)]
* [http://www.ccca.ca Centre for Contemporary Canadian Art (CCCA)]

Art Metropole