Adopted by the Government of Québec in 1961, the Politique d’intégration des arts à l’architecture et à l’environnement des bâtiments et des sites gouvernementaux et publics (policy of integrating art into the architecture and environment of government and public buildings and sites) stipulates that approximately 1% of the total construction budget of a public building or site must be devoted to the integration of a work of art. Today some 3,500 public artworks have benefited from this policy and form a rich cultural heritage in all regions of Québec.
These works promote the creativity of Québec’s professional artists and foster the democratization of public art. In Montréal, almost one-third of public artworks have resulted from the policy of integrating the arts into architecture, enriching Montréal’s extensive art collection and public spaces.
For more information about the Politique d’intégration des arts à l’architecture et à l’environnement des bâtiments et des sites gouvernementaux et publics, go to:
http://www.mcc.gouv.qc.ca/.