8th edition of the artch festival

The artch emerging art festival will present its 8th edition from October 15 to 19. Held in downtown Montreal, this year’s edition will celebrate the best of the emerging art scene under the theme of cooperation and collective creation.

At a time when the sustainability of artistic practices is a major issue, cooperation and collective approaches emerge as essential avenues for reflection. This theme invites us to explore how artists can organize, collaborate, and coexist with others beyond the confines of the art world. How can we maintain meaningful connections in an era marked by competition, silos, and polarized opinions? How can we build solid bridges between artistic and social spheres to imagine new forms of collaboration?

Through a rich program of workshops, talks, and activities, this edition of artch opens a space for dialogue closely connected to Montreal’s vibrant cooperative fabric. Free and open to all, artch is a must-attend event to discover emerging contemporary art in Quebec, meet artists and inspiring professionals, attend performances, take part in creative activities, and maybe even start your own art collection.

Meet the Artists 

artch 2025 is the perfect opportunity to discover the next generation of contemporary artists through the diverse and compelling worlds of its 18-artist cohort. Their practices span photography, edible art, sculpture, performance, installation, and much more—highlighting the richness and vitality of the emerging art scene.

This year, artch welcomes Alexey Lazarev, Alfred Muszynski, Amara Barner, Amaralina Ramalho Alvarez, Anne-Sophie Jetté, Betty Pomerleau, Camille-Zoé Valcourt-Synnott, Candide Candace, Charline Dally, Fannie L’Heureux, Gabrielle Turbide, Guillaume Bégin Champagne, Jega Delisca, Madison Strizic, Sam Duquette, Spencer Magnan, Tina Lam, and William Sabourin.

About the festival

Since 2018, artch has supported emerging contemporary artists by guiding a new cohort each year through a comprehensive professional development program.

More than just an exhibition, the event transforms public space into a vibrant platform for showcasing, learning, and connection. Selected through an open call, the 18 artists receive tailored support, including professional development workshops, mentorship, networking opportunities, and a prime platform to present their work to the public.

Each edition spotlights bold, innovative practices in dialogue with current social and cultural issues. By introducing a wider audience to contemporary art, artch actively contributes to energizing Montreal’s art scene and amplifying the voices of emerging creators.