This text is part of the special Museums notebook
Under its geodesic dome designed by Richard Buckminster Fuller and Shoji Sadao, we make sure to keep the legacy of these visionaries of modern environmental thought alive. The Biosphere recently unveiled its new programming, which promises to bridge the gap between art, science and humanity.
Since its inauguration during the 1967 Universal Exhibition, the Montreal Biosphere has become a major architectural symbol of the city. Transformed into a museum dedicated to the preservation of the environment in 1995, it joined Espace pour la vie in April 2021. Formed by the Biodôme, the Biosphere, the Insectarium, the Botanical Garden and the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, Espace pour la life today represents the largest natural sciences museum complex in Canada.
Interdisciplinary vision
The impressive and unique steel structure has finally found its way, as 5e Space for Life museum: “We clarified the vision, renewed our ways of doing things, created a new team led by a new administration,” specifies from the outset the head of programming at the Biosphere, Eve-Lyne Cayouette Ashby.
The Biosphere’s museum offering has been completely redesigned and, in the process, we have preferred an interdisciplinary approach capable of satisfying school groups, families and adults by judiciously adapting the content and reading levels. “We articulate our programming choices along three axes: the natural, human and social sciences, the visual and living arts and society and its citizens to understand how environmental issues are experienced,” explains M.me Cayouette Ashby. All of our programming is linked to one or more of these axes. »
Climate plan
“In order to achieve its environmental commitments, Montreal has adopted a Climate Plan which contains concrete measures to mobilize the Montreal population. At Space for Life, the Biosphere will be able to increase its impact in the ecological transition while pursuing a mission that directly aligns with the priorities of our administration […] », declared the mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, during the reopening of the Biosphere in August 2021.
Entirely dedicated to the links between society and the environment, the fifth address of Space for Life brings humans closer to nature by positioning visitors at the intersection of science, art and civic action. Ultimately, we will have learned factual things, felt emotions and we will have questioned our role in all of this: “Without ever being moralistic, we make sure to propose accessible solutions, individual or collective,” underlines Eve -Lyne Cayouette-Ashby.
With its summer programming, the Biosphere Museum wishes to continue its mission by helping to mobilize Quebecers in the fight against climate change and the protection of the environment.
A summer in 7 exhibitions
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.