MONTREAL.- Le Grand Balcon officially closed on January 15, 2017. The 2016 edition of La Biennale de Montréal has been a resounding success: attendance, critical reception and notoriety reached new heights. The event welcomed over 92,000 visitors and significantly raised the profile of Montreal as a destination for contemporary art. Le Grand Balcon was presented by La Biennale de Montréal and co-produced with the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC) in collaboration with the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Galerie de l’UQAM, Dazibao, and OPTICA, contemporary art centre, and in partnership with many diverse cultural institutions.

“The objectives of the 2016 Biennale de Montréal were ambitious,” remarked Sylvie Fortin, Executive/Artistic Director of La Biennale de Montréal. “Building on the success of the 2014 edition of the Biennale and pursuing the trajectory launched that year, we invited curator Philippe Pirotte to collaborate with us for 2016. His singular and sophisticated artistic vision fascinated the Biennale’s growing and engaged public as they discovered the works and worlds of contemporary artists from near and far.

Our partnership with the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal and our numerous collaborations with Montreal institutions brought our community’s dynamism to the world stage. The reach of the 2016 edition has substantially outpaced that of 2014: we have welcomed over 92,000 visitors, including an impressive number of tourists. We’ve reached 10,000 students and learners, from primary schools to universities and professionals, in addition to welcoming a growing diversity of Montrealers. There’s much to expect for 2018.”

“BNLMTL 2016 gave visitors the opportunity to discover the practice of significant artists from Québec, Canada and elsewhere, many of whom premiered new and commissioned works for the Biennale. The public response was enthusiastic, resulting in markedly greater attendance than our last edition,” notes John Zeppetelli, Director and Chief curator of the MAC.

The local, national and international notoriety of La Biennale de Montréal also grew significantly with its 2016 edition. Montreal media were tremendous partners, playing a key role as they relayed BNLMTL 2016’s significance and published interviews with artists. Over 500 accredited national and international professionnals, presenters and media visited BNLMTL 2016. Over 200 reviews and articles have already been published. Le Grand Balcon was a resounding success.

BNLMTL 2016, Le Grand Balcon
From October 20, 2016 through January 15, 2017, BNLMTL 2016 brought together the works of 55 contemporary artists from 23 countries, loosely exploring the notion of hedonism. Some 150 works, including 35 new productions, were presented in a large scale, multisite exhibition at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, the event’s main venue, and at 15 other partner sites.

Le Grand Balcon was conceptualized and curated by Philippe Pirotte in consultation with curatorial advisors Corey McCorkle, Aseman Sabet and Kitty Scott, and in close collaboration with Sylvie Fortin, Executive and Artistic Director of La Biennale de Montréal.

+ 92,000 visitors (exhibitions, performances and events)

+ 10,000 students participated in educational activities (from primary schools to universities and professionals)

+ 500 accredited professionnals, presenters and media (+ 250 from outside Quebec)

+ 200 reviews, articles and mentions (press coverage: 45% Québec / 55% elsewhere)

+ 200 activities and events (openings, talks,tours, workshops, etc.)
77 days

55 private partners (local, national and international)

La Biennale de Montréal sincerely thanks the participating artists, the diverse public and the media representatives who took interest in our mission and programs, as well as our partners and collaborators who collectively made Le Grand Balcon a success.

BNLMTL 2016 thanks its Distinguished Partners for their generous support: PACART, Ubisoft, Loto Québec, Hotel Renaissance Montréal Centre-Ville, the Claudine and Stephen Bronfman Family Foundation, Tourisme Montréal, Aéroports de Montréal and VIA Rail.

La Biennale de Montréal also gratefully acknowledges the major investment made by the Government of Québec in its 2016 edition through the concerted actions of the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the ministère de la Culture et des Communications, the Fonds d’initiative et de rayonnement de la métropole du Secrétariat à la région métropolitaine du ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Occupation du territoire and the ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale.