History
History
1985
In the spring, a group of individuals from the Collectif des jeunes sans emploi de Saint-Louis-du-Parc (an unemployed youth collective) founded Vox Populi with an activist mindset, firmly committed and determined to advance the cause of young people.
That same year also saw the creation of Atelier VOX, a space for creation and dialogue by the collective’s members. Its director and founder was Marcel Blouin.
Also in 1985, the members of VOX decided to begin publishing the magazine Ciel variable, which collected text and photography.
1989
This year would prove decisive for VOX, as it organized the first edition of the Mois de la Photo à Montréal, at the time Canada’s only photography biennale.
VOX received the Visual Arts Award from the Conseil des arts de la communauté urbaine de Montréal for its successful presentation of the Mois de la Photo à Montréal.
1990
The organization founded the VOX Information Systems division, as a means of combining emerging new technologies with photography.
1992
The organization opened Galerie VOX, home to exhibitions of contemporary photography.
1995
IMAGO was created, along with Artexte and Vidéographe. The goal was to implement a capital works project and pool the three groups’ databases.
1998
The Musée virtuel, an innovative research and dissemination tool bringing together some 3,000 images by about 60 photographers, went online.
Marcel Blouin stepped down as executive director of VOX and was replaced by Pierre Blache.
Marie-Josée Jean acted as artistic director and general director of the Mois de la Photo à Montréal from 1998 to 2001.
1999
The centre refined its mandate and became VOX, centre de diffusion de la photographie. In so doing it abandoned its photographic production role to focus on exhibition production. It expanded its activities to present exhibitions nationally and internationally, circulating exhibitions in Canada, Europe and Mexico.
VOX once again received the Visual Arts Award from the Conseil des arts de la communauté urbaine de Montréal for presenting the Mois de la Photo à Montréal.
2001-2003
VOX cemented a partnership with the Bonsecours Market in Old Montréal, which enabled it to operate a large exhibition space and develop international programming.
2002
Marie-Josée Jean became VOX’s artistic director.
In the fall, the Mois de la Photo à Montréal became a separate entity, allowing each organization to focus on expanding its respective fields of activity.
2004
VOX moved its presentation operations to new premises on Saint-Laurent Boulevard and further refined its mandate, becoming a centre for the contemporary image.
2005
VOX created the Fonds documentaire de la photographie québécoise, making works by 126 Québec artists accessible on the Web (in all, some 6,500 images dating from 1950 to 2005).
The same year, Pierre Blache stepped down, and Marie-Josée Jean became the centre’s executive and artistic director.
2011
Along with Artexte and the RCAAQ, under the banner Art actuel 2-22 (formerly IMAGO), VOX relocated its operations to the 2-22, a building in downtown Montreal, becoming the owner of the nearly 12,000 sq ft space.
2012
VOX was recognized as a social-economy organization.
2013
Art actuel 2-22 (Artexte, RCAAQ and VOX) was shortlisted for the 28th Grand Prix of the Conseil des arts de Montréal for having provided the city with a new, unifying contemporary art venue.
VOX presents its first contemporary art exhibition aimed at a youth audience, along with a distinctive educational program.
2016
VOX celebrated its 30th anniversary.
2019
VOX helped create the Collectif d'éditeurs en art contemporain (CÉAC).
2020
The COVID-19 pandemic forced VOX to close twice and disrupts the schedule of its exhibition and education program.
2025
VOX celebrates its 40th anniversary.
