First estimated at 45 million, the budget for Espace Riopelle, which will be built within the confines of the National Museum of Fine Arts of Quebec (MNBAQ), now amounts to 84 million, the management of the museum Thursday.
The construction of this new museum space, which will house more than 500 works created by Jean Paul Riopelle, will begin this spring, confirmed the management of the MNBAQ. The mandate was given to the construction firm CONCREA following a call for tenders launched on December 7. This is the lowest bidder.
The Ministry of Culture and Communications will ultimately inject 44 million into the real estate project, while the City of Quebec will invest 5 million. The patrons of the Jean Paul Riopelle Foundation have agreed to increase their participation, which will increase to 25 million. Finally, the MNBAQ Foundation will complete the financial package by extending 10 million.
In total, at least 84 million will be spent (not counting probable overruns) in the construction of Espace Riopelle, the initial plans of which were produced by the architectural firm FABG. The adjustment of the initial budget was expected by the various parties given the overheating of the construction market over the last three years.
The new pavilion is scheduled to open in 2026, if all goes according to plan.
The preparatory work is well advanced, indicated the MNBAQ in a press release. “All exhibition rooms where the construction site will take place have been dismantled,” the museum said. This is the Family Gallery, the work The Flux and The Puddleby David Altmejd, the room Claim of the exhibition 350 years of artistic practices in Quebecas well as the temporary rooms of the Gérard-Morisset pavilion.
Nearly 9,000 works from the museum’s permanent collections were also moved.