New: Digital Map Showing the Location of Public Artworks in the Laval Area

Laval, April 14, 2022 — Residents can now explore the City of Laval’s rich collection of public art online thanks to a new interactive map that showcases this artistic offering. The map allows users to locate nearly sixty works of art scattered throughout the city and discover them through the texts, photos, and videos available on the platform.

“What a wonderful initiative to discover the works of art that surround us! It’s all the more relevant given the ever-growing interest we’re seeing in the arts in Laval. This new platform not only allows users to locate public artworks but also to learn more about the artists and the context in which these works were created. It’s a wonderful educational tool that makes the arts accessible to everyone. I invite all residents of Laval to explore the map and discover these works of art located throughout the island.” 

— Flavia Alexandra Novac, City Councilmember for Sainte-Rose and head of cultural affairs

Credit: Alissa Chalifour, City of Laval

A project promoting access to the arts and culture

The narrative map is consistent with the Municipal Policy on the Integration of Public Art into Municipal Buildings and Sites, adopted in September 2021. Among other things, this policy aims to enhance the citizen experience by improving quality of life and urban aesthetics. The project is also part of the initiatives outlined in the 2019–2023 Laval Region Cultural Development Plan (PDCRL) regarding the promotion of works of art from the City of Laval’s municipal collection.

The map helps showcase the remarkable work of artists and contributes to the collective well-being of citizens through culture. Born out of a need among citizens who wanted to learn more about the artworks, this new tool is the result of close collaboration between several Laval municipal departments

Public Art Trail at the Nature Center

As they explore the narrative map, residents will discover an extensive trail featuring a dozen artworks located on the plain at the Nature Center. They are invited to come and admire these impressive works in person and to participate as a family in a fun-filled trail starting May 14. This arts education activity for children ages 5 and up will allow them to engage their senses and imagination by discovering the stories behind the creation of the artworks.

Recent Installations

Over the past year, several works have been added to the public art collection. Among them is *Double Courbe* by artist Renée Condo, which can be admired in front of the Argenteuil Center for the Arts. This aluminum sculpture celebrates culture, diversity, and nature. It pays homage to the artist’s Mi’gmaq heritage and embodies the themes of alliance, community, and balance. It is worth noting that Renée Condo is a recipient of the mentoring program for the creation of a first public art work in Quebec, which is designed for emerging artists, artists from underrepresented communities, or artists from Indigenous communities.

About the Public Art Collection

The municipal public art collection consists of nearly sixty sculptures, installations, paintings, drawings, digital and sound works, photographs, and murals dating from 1917 to the present. These works by professional artists—most of whom are from Quebec—are referred to as “site-specific” because they are designed specifically for the locations where they are displayed.

Additional Information

To explore the narrative map, visit its webpage

Credit: Alissa Chalifour, City of Laval

Caption: Renée Condo, *Double Curve*, 2021, aluminum, Center for Artistic Practice, Argenteuil Pavilion.