Museum Alley
Back alleys are at the heart of Montreal life. They’re a meeting place for locals, and a haven of peace and privacy for all who encounter them. You can hear the neighbourhood chatter, balls bouncing, cats squabbling. Families and friends gather here for barbecues, for birthdays or just to soak up the summer sun. They’re a space for creativity and wonder, where the bright colours of children’s chalk drawings complement the radiant lilac blossoms.
In an effort to bring the Montreal alley experience to the downtown core, the Museum presents Museum Alley, a new pedestrianized space on Victoria Street open 12 months a year. Created by architecture firm KANVA, this space immerses the public in the imaginary world of the Montreal alley, inviting passers-by to sit, linger, meet up and chat, surrounded by heavily laden clotheslines. With its abundant greenery, Museum Alley is reminiscent of the city’s most beautiful ruelles vertes, where Montrealers immerse themselves in nature.
Alleys: emblematic of Montreal
As a trademark feature of Montreal’s urban planning, alleys were once widespread downtown, but they gradually disappeared from the district in the early 1960s. Initially used as service roads at the rear of house and apartment lots, their usefulness faded away with the emergence of the major boulevards and towering skyscrapers that replaced old residential streets.
More about the Museum Alley
Olivier Charland
On the ground, between the green marks illustrating the original subdivision of lots along Victoria Street, a work created by Olivier Charland for the MURAL festival evokes the liveliness of alleyways, capturing the energy and movement of everyday moments through abstract forms.
Olivier is a multi-disciplinary designer & artist from Montréal with more than 10 years of experience in the field.His work spans across different mediums. Rooted in a thoughtful approach, he brings innovative ideas and conceptual depth to each project while maintaining a playful and sensitive aesthetic throughout his practice.
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Throughout his practice, he worked for some of the best studios & companies between Montreal, Paris, New York & San Francisco. He also has the chance to share his passion as an adjuct professor at UQÀM School of Design.
A year-round programming
Museum Alley will host a variety of programming all summer long, as well as games and entertainment. It will be open year-round, evolving with the seasons.
Acknowledgments
The Museum would like to thank its team and all those who contributed, directly and indirectly, to the presentation of this installation.
Conception
Kanva
Project management
François Vallée, Head, Exhibitions
Manufacture and installation
Sollertia
Joinery
OVI
Mural on the street
Olivier Charland
Ground markings
MURAL
Landscaping
La ligne verte
Graphic Designer
Anne-Marie Demers, McCord Stewart Museum
Museum Team
Administration and finance
Mario Lafond, Building Manager
David Dupéré, Security Manager
Claudio Pacheco, Maintenance Technician
Dominique Granger, Mechanical Technician
Education, Community Engagement and Cultural Programs
Elysa Lachapelle, Project Manager
Mediation cultural team
Marketing, Communications and Visitor Experience
Sandra Nadeau Paradis, Officer, Publicity and Promotions
McCord Museum Foundation
Amélie Saint-Pierre, Executive Director
Free
On-going
Alley games
This summer, chalk, jump ropes, skip-its, checkers, chess and other activities will entertain adults and children alike!
Free
On-going
Urban Tours
Take an exclusive outdoor tour thanks to historical images from the Museum’s Photography collection of over 2,150,000 pictures. Using your phone, you can follow various tours and discover the history of 150 city sites and photographs that bear witness to the Montreal of the past.
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Tourisme Montréal
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Tourisme Montréal invites you to discover the city with the Passeport MTL. This pass gives you access to several attractions at a reduced price!
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A McCord Stewart Museum installation presented by
Produced in collaboration with
Thanks to our financial partners
And our cultural partners for 2024 summer programming
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Parking nearby ($) • Bike and Bixi • Bus 24 • McGill Metro
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