Picture: Parcs Canada

Founded in 1987, the Centre de diffusion 3D is a non-profit organisation. Its mandate is to publish the art magazine Espace - a quarterly periodical analysing the art of sculpture, informing and educating the public and treating all subjects relating to sculpture (www.espace-sculpture.com) - and to organise or take part in contemporary sculpture events. Regarding the latter part of its mandate, CDD3D has recently begun process of incorporating an affiliate, the Centre d'Art Public (CAP). This organisation has the objective of planning and developing various events related to public art that stimulate reflection and the exchange of ideas.

Since its founding in 1987, the CDD3D has organised numerous activities establishing itself as a significant and dynamic contributor to the visual arts milieu. The most notable of these undertakings are:

• the publication of the art magazine Espace (number 50 appeared in December 1999) and the publication of exhibition catalogues;
• the edition of various works on sculpture such as Symposiums de sculpture au Québec 1964-1997;
• the creation of the "Collection Lieudit " a publication of essays on contemporary sculpture such as Textes furtifs. Autour de la sculpture, by Lise Lamarche, professor at the Université de Montréal, and L'art insituable. De l'in situ et autres sites, by Johanne Lamoureux, professor at the Université de Montréal;
• the organisation of conferences on sculpture such as Les lieux de la sculpture aujourd'hui held in December 1999, which presented seven speakers from here and abroad;
• the holding of a competition of sculpture models for university students in the visual arts and the production of critical textes;
• the organisation of projects such as exhibitions and sculpture symposiums.

With this experience, the CDD3D is recognised today as having a reliable and well-informed position in the art world, contributing significantly to the blossoming of sculpture and contemporary art. This has led to a stage in the CDD3D's development, in which an increased role within the collectivity is desired, such as setting up large formative projects, in which the positive effects can be shared by the city and its citizens as well as the art community. Artefact has become an important vehicle for the Centre de diffusion 3D and its affiliate, the Centre d'Art Public, meaning that CDD3D can expand its mandate and consolidate its already highly reputed activities. This will give CDD3D a new lease on life and stimulate future accomplishment.