Mission, Structure and History

Mission

Founded with the conviction that living transcultural artistic experiences contribute to the betterment of humankind, OBORO is an artist centre that favours the development of art practices locally, nationally and internationally. OBORO’s sphere of activity encompasses visual and media arts, performing arts, new technologies and emerging practices.

OBORO’s more specific mandate is to support creation in various cultural practices; to encourage innovation, experimentation, the exchange of ideas and the sharing of knowledge. OBORO's objective is to promote awareness and dialogue within the art world and society at large and to contribute to a culture of peace.

Activity & Services

We organise concurrent research, production, presentation, dissemination and training activities. They take the shape of residencies, work commissions, exhibitions, live performances and concerts, visual, sound and multimedia presentations, lectures and meetings, panel discussions, publications, workshops and experimental labs, online performances using information and communications technologies, as wells as large-scale special events.

We also offer a wide variety of services through the New Media Lab. Amongst others, a production studio, sound studio, video+dvd/multimedia post-production facilities, multi-purpose spaces, conference and meeting rooms as well as an array of video, audio and multimedia mobile equipment.

Structure

OBORO is a not-for-profit organisation incorporated in 1984 under the 3rd part of the Loi sur les compagnies du Québec, and recognised as a charitable organisation by the Canada Revenue Agency.

The Board of Directors consists of a majority of working artists and professional cultural workers. Programming is built by a programming committee composed of member artists of the organisation.

Operations are managed by a team of friendly and experienced individuals, the majority of whom are also professional artists.

History

Founded in 1982 by Su Schnee and Daniel Dion, OBORO had an exciting beginning. During its first year, OBORO presented no less than 20 exhibitions and events, thanks to the involvement of many artists whose common objective was to offer resources and services to the artistic community and to the public, as well as to participate in the current worldwide artistic flux.

During the first ten years, OBORO occupied a space on Saint Laurent Boulevard, Montreal’s cosmopolitan axis, where exhibitions, performances, residencies and special events featured young artists from varied backgrounds producing ambitious and dauntless works.

In 1992 OBORO moved to its current location at 4001 Berri where premises were more conducive to production and to the presentation of visual, media, interdisciplinary and performing art works. In 1995, responding to an urgent need in the milieu, OBORO created the New Media Lab, a multifunctional space dedicated to activities in new technologies.

In 2001 a major expansion project for the Lab materialised on the second floor of the building. The New Media Lab, completed in the fall of 2004, has since become one of the most important centres of production and dissemination in Montreal and Canada. It includes a vast and unique range of studios and resources available to members of the collective, artists in the community, and the public.