The Centre international d'art contemporain de Montréal (CIAC) was created in 1983 with a mandate to disseminate contemporary art from Quebec, Canada and abroad. A non-profit organization with no permanent space, the CIAC earned an international reputation with the Cent jours d'art contemporain de Montréal, held from 1985 to 1996. Since 1998, the CIAC has been pursuing its commitment to contemporary art through the Biennale de Montréal.

Daniel Buren, Neuf couleurs au vent, 1984-1996
Corner Sherbrooke and Amherst, Montréal
Collection d'art public de la Ville de Montréal
Photo : Guy L'Heureux

Aside from the organization of major events, the CIAC has been responsible for the production of an electronic arts magazine, solo exhibitions and a writing contest first intended for students, now opened to the general public. The Centre international d'art contemporain de Montréal, which celebrated twenty years of active commitment in the arts in 2004, has always featured artists from the visual arts, architecture, landscape architecture, graphic and industrial designs, video and film.

Since 1984, the centre has presented to a general audience the most prominent figures of the contemporary art scene, allowing over 500,000 people to see and appreciate the work of some 800 artists.