The Centre

Mission

Verticale is an artist-run centre that contributes to the development of contemporary art.

It provides professional and emerging artists with space for the creation and presentation of art projects, promotes community life and public forums.

President

David Beauchamp

With an MA in art history from Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), David Beauchamp is a manager and strategic advisor in the Montreal cultural and philanthropic sectors. He has published articles in ETC and Inter art actuel, and is actively involved in community and cultural organizations such as la Maison du développement durable (MDD) and Carrefour jeunesse-emploi Montréal centre-ville (CJE). Beauchamp has also worked for the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Foundation, and is currently senior manager for the community/humanitarian organization Mission inclusion.

Treasurer

Stéphanie Lagueux

Media artist Stéphanie Lagueux works collaboratively with Jonathan L’Ecuyer to create interactive and participatory experiences in public spaces. With a BFA in art and design from Université du Québec en Outaouais (1998), she began her practice in the region’s artist-run centres, and went on to complete a certificate in education. Now based in Terrebonne, Lagueux is involved in local cultural development, particularly as part of Art Partage, and focuses on creating connections and making digital art more accessible in partnership with various organizations and communities. Since 2002, she has worked as outreach, archives and networks coordinator at Studio XX, and serves on the board of directors of Artenso, Centre for research and innovation in art and social engagement.

Administrator

Janick Burn

Originally from the Outaouais/Anishinabewaki, Janick Burn has been based in Montréal/Tio’tia:ké for several years. In 2019, she completed an MFA in visual and media arts at UQAM, and is now involved in various artistic projects (creating, curating, organizing), often in collaboration. Her practical and theoretical research focuses on the relationship between the body and the frame, which she approaches reflexively via performance and image-making.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee is a standing committee that develops recommendations for the financial control and development of the centre’s financial resources. It includes the treasurer, the director, the administrative coordinator, one or two additional members and, ex officio, the board’s president.

Membership Committee

The membership committee is a standing committee that draws up recommendations for the centre’s community-based activities aimed at increasing the centre’s membership and promoting greater participation in the organization’s activities. It is chaired by a member of the board of directors and includes the director, the programming coordinator, three additional members and, ex officio, the board’s president.

Projects Committee

The Projects Committee is a standing committee that receives specific mandates on an ad hoc basis, and develops recommendations related to the centre’s organizational issues, programming and / or other public activities. The ad hoc mandates this committee receives are at the request of the board of directors. These may include the organization of events, the development of projects, the formulation of policies relating to public activities, among others. It is chaired by a member of the board of directors, and includes the director, the programming coordinator, two to four additional members and, ex officio, the board’s president.

Human Resources Committee

The Human Resources Committee is a standing committee that reports on the Centre’s human resources. It is responsible for interviewing, hiring, evaluating and, if required, terminating the contracts of the Centre’s employees. It also reports on any other issue directly related to staffing. The committee includes a member in charge of work relations, a member of the board of directors who chairs the committee, the director and, ex officio, the board’s president.

Relocation Committee

The Relocation Committee is a temporary committee that is mandated to make recommendations for the Centre’s relocation to permanent facilities and artistic programming strategies for its interim location. It is chaired by a member of the board of directors and includes the director, the programming coordinator, one to three additional members and, ex officio, the president.

The Horizontal Committee

The Horizontal Committee is an ad hoc committee tasked with developing anti-oppression strategies in order to make VCA more inclusive, both in its programming and operations. It is made up of a board-appointed representative, an unlimited number of members, invited individuals, the director and, ex officio, the president.

The board’s bylaws are available to all members upon request. Please contact us to receive a copy.

Verticale — centre d’artistes (VCA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1991 by the Société des arts visuels de Laval, a group of artists incorporated in 1987 who undertook the task of establishing an artist-run centre with the aim of supporting the artistic profession in Laval and contributing to the development of contemporary art. In 2012, members changed the name of the organization (previously Galerie Verticale) to Verticale — centre d’artistes, which was seen as more representative of the nature of their activities. Since 2010, VCA has been in the process of relocating. During this transition to a more durable abode, VCA continues to fulfill its regional and national mandate, offering Laval residents and others, both new and seasoned art lovers, accessible programming in a variety of sites across Île-Jésus. These take place most often off-site, beyond the walls of typical art venues, placing art in unusual spaces, close to the everyday lives of citizens.

1987

Establishment of the Société des arts visuels de Laval, June 18, 1987.

1991

Opening of the first Galerie Verticale Art Contemporain (GVAC), at 1897 boulevard Dagenais Ouest. Inauguration October 9, 1991.

1994

GVAC moves to a new address, 1871, boulevard Industriel. The new gallery is inaugurated September 1, 1994.

2000

GVAC moves to the 2^nd floor at 2080, boulevard des Laurentides. Much like at previous locations, there is a documentation centre and studio space available to members.

2010

On July 1, the administrative offices are moved to 397, boulevard des Prairies Ouest. This marks the beginning of a process of relocation, transition and reflection regarding the Centre’s future.

2011

A founding member of ROCAL (Regroupement d’organismes culturels et d’artistes lavallois), Verticale unites with other associations to establish a Centre for artistic creation in Laval and concretely engages in a collective capital project.

2012

Verticale’s membership agrees to change the name of the organization to one that is more representative of its activities. It is known from then on as Verticale — centre d’artistes (VCA).

2018

Villa — véhicule d’arts actuels et numériques is launched in the spring. Villa is the first mobile laboratory dedicated to digital creation in Laval, embodying the Centre’s nomadism.

On the day marking the Centre’s 30^th anniversary, and in recognition of their involvement and impact on the organization’s development, the board of directors grants honorary-member status to the founding members of the Société des arts visuels de Laval and of Galerie Verticale, as well as to all members who have been involved with the organization for longer than 15 years.