Galerie d'art du Parc

Galerie d'art du Parc (GAP) is a non-profit contemporary art exhibition centre located at 864, rue des Ursulines in Trois-Rivières, in the Mauricie tourism region of Quebec, Canada. It was founded in 1972 by Liette C. Paquet, Denis Bouchard, Sabine Gingras and abbé Carmel Paquin, and officially opened on 9 February 1972 at the Pavillon St-Arnaud in Parc Pie-XII. In 1974 it was among the first exhibition centres accredited by Quebec's ministère des Affaires culturelles (now the ministère de la Culture et des Communications). Since 1981 it has occupied the Manoir de Tonnancour, a national historic site, under an agreement with the municipality and the provincial government. The gallery presents around ten free exhibitions and artistic events each year, reflecting the diversity of contemporary art in its various forms. It showcases professional and emerging artists from the region and beyond, across painting, drawing, watercolour, printmaking, photography, video, sculpture, installation, mixed media and performance. To date it has presented the work of 1,981 artists through some 308 exhibitions. It is associated with two recurring Trois-Rivières events: the Biennale nationale de sculpture contemporaine (BNSC), held in even summers since 1984, and the Biennale internationale de l'estampe contemporaine de Trois-Rivières (BIECTR), held in odd summers since 1999. Beyond exhibitions, the gallery offers guided and interactive tours, introductory art and heritage activities, creative workshops, discovery games, educational visits for school groups and cultural experience visits for social groups. It also rents rooms and hosts events. Admission to exhibitions is free at all times unless otherwise indicated. Opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The gallery is a member of several museum networks, including Médiat-Muse (Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec museum institutions), the Société des musées québécois, the Canadian Museums Association, Culture Mauricie, Tourisme Trois-Rivières and Tourisme Mauricie. It is an accredited museum institution under Quebec's ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine. Its dual artistic and historical character makes it a meeting place for contemporary art and heritage. Leadership has changed several times: Christiane Simoneau became director on 30 June 1993; Audrey Labrie took over in 2022; and Louise Pimprenelle Nicolas became director in 2025. In 2022–2023 the gallery opened Family and Sustainable Development spaces and developed cultural mediation. In 2026 it announced the first edition of its festive market, GAPAMI, and a programme including exhibitions by Marie-Aube Laniel, Lucie Rocher, and Christiane Simoneau with Pablo Teodoro Poblète-Cassua.

Galerie d'art du Parc was founded on 9 February 1972 as a non-profit organization by Liette C. Paquet, Denis Bouchard, Sabine Gingras and abbé Carmel Paquin. It opened officially at the Pavillon St-Arnaud in Parc Pie-XII in Trois-Rivières. In 1974 it was accredited as an exhibition centre by Quebec's ministère des Affaires culturelles (now the ministère de la Culture et des Communications), making it one of the first accredited exhibition centres in the province. Since then it has received support and collaboration from the Quebec ministry and the City of Trois-Rivières. In 1981, following an agreement with the municipality and the government, the gallery moved into the Manoir de Tonnancour, a national historic site. From then on it became a crossroads where contemporary art and heritage meet. Its artistic and historical character make it a place for encounters, exchanges and learning. In 1984 the gallery began a major collaboration by hosting the first Biennale nationale de céramique (BNC). In 1993 Christiane Simoneau became director, taking office on 30 June 1993. In 1999 the gallery hosted the first edition of the Biennale internationale d'estampe contemporaine de Trois-Rivières (BIECTR). In 2004 the Biennale nationale de céramique became the Biennale nationale de sculpture contemporaine (BNSC), continuing its partnership with the gallery; Christiane Simoneau directed both organizations. In 2022 Audrey Labrie became director of both the gallery and the BNSC. In 2022–2023 the gallery opened Family and Sustainable Development spaces and developed cultural mediation. In 2025 Louise Pimprenelle Nicolas became director. Each year since 1972 the gallery has presented around ten regional, national and international exhibitions. It covers painting, drawing, watercolour, printmaking, photography, video, sculpture, installation, mixed media and performance. To date it has presented and promoted the work of 1,981 artists through some 308 exhibitions. It is associated with the Biennale nationale de sculpture contemporaine, held in even summers since 1984, and the Biennale internationale de l'estampe contemporaine, held in odd summers since 1999. In addition to contemporary art, it presents exhibitions on the history of the site and its occupants. The gallery's staff welcomes and guides visitors through the artworks and the historic site. It offers interactive guided tours, introductory art and heritage activities, creative workshops and discovery games. Educational visits for school groups and cultural experience visits for social groups are also available. The gallery is a member of Médiat-Muse, the Société des musées québécois, the Canadian Museums Association, Culture Mauricie, Tourisme Trois-Rivières and Tourisme Mauricie. It is an accredited museum institution under Quebec's ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine.

• Founding of Galerie d'art du Parc (non-profit) by Liette C. Paquet, Denis Bouchard, Sabine Gingras and abbé Carmel Paquin; official opening at Pavillon St-Arnaud in Parc Pie-XII, Trois-Rivières.

• Accreditation as an exhibition centre by the ministère des Affaires culturelles (now ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec).

• The gallery moves to the Manoir de Tonnancour after an agreement with the municipality and the government.

• First Biennale nationale de céramique (BNC) presented at the gallery, beginning a major collaboration.

• Christiane Simoneau becomes director and officially takes office.

• First edition of the Biennale internationale d'estampe contemporaine de Trois-Rivières (BIECTR) at the gallery.

• The Biennale nationale de céramique becomes the Biennale nationale de sculpture contemporaine (BNSC), continuing its partnership with the gallery.

• Audrey Labrie becomes director of the gallery and the BNSC.

• Opening of Family and Sustainable Development spaces and development of cultural mediation.

• Louise Pimprenelle Nicolas becomes director of the gallery.

Non-profit accredited exhibition centre where contemporary art meets heritage, offering free access to diverse visual arts in a historic setting.

• Contemporary art exhibitions

  Around ten free exhibitions and artistic events per year, covering painting, drawing, watercolour, printmaking, photography, video, sculpture, installation, mixed media and performance.

• Biennale nationale de sculpture contemporaine (BNSC)

  Held in even summers since 1984, in partnership with the gallery.

• Biennale internationale d'estampe contemporaine de Trois-Rivières (BIECTR)

  Held in odd summers since 1999.

• Guided tours and educational activities

  Interactive guided tours, art and heritage initiation activities, creative workshops, discovery games, school group visits and cultural experience visits.

• Room rentals

  Spaces available for rental.

1. 1Galerie d'art du Parc | Explorez, Visitez, Engagezgaleriedartduparc.qc.ca
2. 2Histoire | Galerie d'art du Parcgaleriedartduparc.qc.ca
3. 3Galerie d'art du Parcwikidata.org
4. 4Galerie d'art du Parcfr.wikipedia.org