We celebrate the first phase of delivery of the home of the future Espace Riopelle

On May 2, we celebrated the start of the handover process for the building that will house the space dedicated to the work of Jean Paul Riopelle.

The event brought together the key stakeholders in this historic project: the Government of Québec, the City of Québec, the Fondation du MNBAQ, the Audain Foundation, the Pierre Lassonde Family Foundation, and Yseult Riopelle, as well as France Chrétien Desmarais and André Desmarais (in absentia).

Many of these partners were in Québec City to attend the Bal national, a major fundraising event organized by the Fondation du Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec to benefit the Museum. Two years after the groundbreaking ceremony for one of Québec’s most significant cultural projects, the building was symbolically handed over to Christine Fréchette, Premier of Québec, and Jean-Luc Murray, Director General of the MNBAQ, by the project’s general contractor, Tisseur (the result of a merger between Tisseur and CONCREA), represented by its president, Yannick Tisseur.

The ceremony took place in the central hall of the Espace Riopelle – Pavillon Michael Audain, under the impressive 17-metre-high wooden ceiling. In attendance were Mathieu Lacombe, Québec’s Minister of Culture and Communications; Jean-François Simard, Québec’s Minister of Employment and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale Region; and Bruno Marchand, Mayor of Québec City. Christiane Germain, CM, OQ, Chair of the MNBAQ’s Board of Director, was accompanied by Julie-Anne Vien, Chair of the Fondation du MNBAQ’s Board of Directors, and Fabrice Alcayde, its President and CEO.

The event also brought together the initiators of the project: Michael Audain, OC, OBC, accompanied by Yoshiko Karasawa and Manon Gauthier (Commissioner of the Riopelle Centenary Celebrations), respectively President, board member, and Executive Director of the Audain Foundation; Pierre Lassonde, OC, GOQ, President of the Pierre Lassonde Family Foundation; France Chrétien Desmarais, Executive Chair of TES Canada H2 Inc.; Yseult Riopelle, President of the Jean Paul Riopelle Foundation and daughter of the artist; and John R. Porter, Honorary Director of the MNBAQ.

An exceptional setting for Riopelle's work

Since work began in May 2024, the team from the general contractor, Tisseur, has been constructing the steel, wood, and concrete framework that will give shape to the future space. The Musée has already taken possession of several areas. Its teams have been hard at work in the storerooms and some of the exhibition rooms. The next steps include preparing the surfaces for displaying the art, setting up the reception and service areas, and completing the outdoor landscaping to welcome visitors this fall.

The new three-storey building in the heart of the museum complex will house the world’s largest public collection of Riopelle’s works.

As the operator and owner, the Musée will finalize preparations for the official opening of the Espace Riopelle – Pavillon Michael Audain in October. Every effort will be made to offer visitors a unique and memorable museum experience.