In addition to exhibitions, EXPRESSION offers educational services, publications, conferences, guided tours, and other mediation projects. The goal of all of these activities is to highlight the work of Canadian artists and make contemporary art more accessible to audiences of all generations, cultures, and beliefs.

EXPRESSION’s mission is to develop people’s sense of belonging to the society in which they live while encouraging a process of decolonization of their approach to life. Who are we, the citizens of the twenty-first century? is the question underlying all of EXPRESSION’s activities. To better understand and cope with life today, our mission consists of enlisting contemporary artworks as raw materials to connect here and elsewhere, past and present, different cultures and belief systems. In short, EXPRESSION is a place of delight, reflection, and education. In this spirit, EXPRESSION affirms that it promotes social dialogue and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Maintaining high quality standards, EXPRESSION presents works that reflect the current concerns of artists who are recognized by their peers. At EXPRESSION, we see artists as partners and respect the established CARFAC-RAAV fee schedules for our public exhibitions.

The highlighting of artists and their main concerns in the early twenty-first century is a focal point for the Centre’s programs. Starting in 2020, EXPRESSION accelerated the transition to addressing realities such as gender, cultural, and belief diversity, as well as awareness of the present and past realities of First Nations, notably by promoting the work of Indigenous artists and, more specifically, by making connections with the Abenaki community, which occupied the territory of Les Maskoutains before French settlers arrived and is still present and active.

EXPRESSION: A museum in the making

EXPRESSION intends to become the Musée d’Art et Société. The museum will be integrated into the Pôle culturel maskoutain (Les Maskoutains cultural hub) that is gradually being built in Saint-Hyacinthe. Therefore, EXPRESSION is preparing for the future with the objective of transforming itself into a museum that will collect and exhibit both contemporary art and regional realities. In this context, EXPRESSION’s mission is to foster dialogue among the region’s different social actors even as it bears witness to diversity of cultures and beliefs through the artists and contemporary artworks that have formed the foundation of this museum of art and society in the making.

ORANGE (since 2003)

Created by EXPRESSION in 2003, ORANGE, L’événement d’art actuel de Saint-Hyacinthe is a recurring art event – a triennial – structured as a laboratory for thought that addresses various issues related to the agri-food industry through exhibitions, interventions, performances, lectures, and screenings. By presenting brand-new works by professional artists from Québec, Canada, and abroad, ORANGE promotes both contemporary art and the event’s host region, known as “Québec’s breadbasket.” Following on the success of the first seven editions, ORANGE and its main partner, EXPRESSION, are preparing the eighth edition of the event, which will take place in summer 2025, in collaboration with the Jardin Daniel A. Séguin.

Chronology of EXPRESSION’s key moments

1985 - EXPRESSION is founded at Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe by Pierre Rodrigue, Francine Girard, Jacques Lefebvre, et Yves Louis-Seize. Pierre Rodrigue is its executive and artistic director.

1987 - Lorraine Fontaine is appointed executive and artistic director.

1988 - EXPRESSION moves to the second floor of the Saint-Hyacinthe public market.
November 13: official opening of the new premises.
Michel Groleau is appointed executive and artistic director.

1989 - Accreditation as a museum is granted by the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec.

1996 - EXPRESSION presents the first edition of Sympo-Fibres international de Saint-Hyacinthe.

1998 - The Canada Council for the Arts awards a recurring core operating grant to EXPRESSION.

1999 - Presentation of the second edition of Sympo-Fibres international de Saint-Hyacinthe.

2001 - Marcel Blouin is appointed executive and artistic director.
A publishing policy is implemented.

2003 - EXPRESSION presents the first edition of ORANGE, L’événement d’art actuel de Saint-Hyacinthe.

2005 - EXPRESSION celebrates its 20^th anniversary.
While remaining a close partner of EXPRESSION, ORANGE incorporates as a non-profit organization. Texts were written for the occasion by Myriam Tétrault, Francine Girard, Claude Millette, Myriam Tétrault et Marcel Blouin.

2006 - Participation in the second edition of ORANGE (ORANGE incorporation).

2007 - First steps toward becoming a museum of contemporary art and regional realities.

2009 - Participation in the third edition of ORANGE.

2010 - EXPRESSION celebrates its 25^th anniversary.

2012 - Participation in the fourth edition of ORANGE.

2013 - Studies are conducted to define the role of the museum in the making.

2015 - Participation in the fifth edition of ORANGE.

2016 - EXPRESSION celebrates its 30^th anniversary.

2018 - Participation in the sixth edition of ORANGE.

2019 - Accreditation is obtained: EXPRESSION becomes a museum certified by the Gouvernement du Québec.

2021 - A policy is adopted for collection of contemporary artworks and regional objects.

2021–22 - Production of a Functional and Technical Program in anticipation of installing EXPRESSION – Musée d’Art et Société in the Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire church.

2022 - Participation in the 7^th edition of ORANGE.

We remain interested in receiving publications and other news from artists, curators and colleagues, but please note that we make no commitment to acknowledge receipt, and no physical documents received will be returned.