2025 summer programming: Explore Montreal’s history, diversity and creativity
Press Release
Montreal, June 12, 2025 – This summer, the McCord Stewart Museum is inviting the public to explore Montreal through four unique exhibitions that will immerse visitors in the cultural and social evolution of the city, its communities and its architectural heritage. This rich and diverse program includes family tours, hands-on workshops and many cultural events for National Indigenous History Month. The Museum is also continuing its commitment to open up cultural experiences to as many people as possible with free admission for ages 17 and under, as well as “Pay What You Can” pricing on the first Sunday of every month during the summer. Outdoors in Museum Alley, which was inaugurated on Victoria Street in 2024, a brand-new mural by Kezna Dalz will be unveiled at the Museum After Hours | Reclaim the Street event on Friday, June 13.
1 tour, 4 exhibitions and so many ways to experience Montreal
- Pounding the Pavement: Montreal Street Photography traces the evolving practice of street photography from the 19th century to today. The 400-plus images that come mainly from the Museum’s collections show how photographers have captured the city’s urban and societal transformations over the years. On until October 26, 2025
- Little Burgundy – Evolving Montreal, a poignant exhibition by Andrew Jackson, documents changes in an iconic part of the city through 61 photographs and 3 short films that give a voice to the people who have lived in this historical neighbourhood of Montreal’s Black community. On until September 28, 2025
- Costume Balls: Dressing Up History, 1870–1927 recreates the opulence of the costume balls held around the turn of the 20th century. Sumptuous costumes, photographs, documents and objects from the period give visitors a unique immersive view of what these grandiose events were like while providing a critical look at the colonial and imperialist myths that they perpetuated. This is the last chance for the public to visit the exhibition this summer. On until August 17,2025
- The permanent exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience gives a voice to members of the 11 Indigenous nations in Quebec and bears witness to the still-unrecognized knowledge of Indigenous peoples, as well as the deep wounds they carry and their incredible resilience.
New mural in Museum Alley
The Museum is renewing its partnership with the MURAL festival launched in 2024 with a new mural that will adorn the pavement of Museum Alley, a relaxing green meeting space in the heart of the city inspired by the atmosphere of Montreal’s iconic neighbourhood alleyways. The mural was created by artist Kezna Dalz, whose characteristic use of aggressive brush strokes and bright colours in her compositions take up such themes as feminism, the fight against racism, popular culture and sexuality. The ground and wall mural will be unveiled on June 13 at the Museum After Hours | Reclaim the Street event, when the Museum will launch its summer programming in collaboration with the JOAT festival.
Street Photography – Capturing Montreal contest
Whether beginners or professionals, all photography buffs are invited to immortalize an authentic Montreal moment for the Capture Montreal contest, running from June 13 to July 12, 2025. Entrants are encouraged to take inspiration from the photographs in the exhibition Pounding the Pavement: Montreal Street Photography and submit their shots of the city’s streets, architecture and neighbourhood ambience for a chance to win one of two prizes provided by Royal Photo, Fujifilm Canada and the Museum worth a total of $4,500.
Urban Tours
The Museum’s Urban Tours are six outdoor routes that are perfect for those who want to explore on their own. This unique off-site experience is based on historical images from the Museum’s Photography collection, which contains over 2.1 million photographs. Visitors can use their phone to explore the tours as they roam around and discover the history of 150 city sites and images that bear witness to the Montreal of the past.
Activities in Museum Alley
Throughout the summer, Museum Alley will be buzzing with activities, such as educational booths hosted by Sollicité on adapting to environmental challenges, the return of our Urban Tours and lots of activities for the whole family. All great reasons for the public to stop by the Museum for an enriching cultural experience!
The Museum After Hours | Reclaim the Street
Friday, June 13, 2025, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Paid activity – Museum Alley
General admission: $15 – Exclusive Access membership: $5
On the program: Street dance workshop hosted by the JOAT festival, collective photographic tribute to Montreal neighbourhoods, DJs, bar ($) and special offer at Café Notman.
Changing habits to help the environment, with Sollicité
Why should we coexist with pollinating insects in the city? Is it possible to be green and trendy? What are the secrets to a successful urban garden? From June 11 to August 13, Peter-McGill’s Ville-Marie éco-quartier booth (hosted by Sollicité) will be set up in Museum Alley at lunchtime every Wednesday to show visitors how to adopt a greener lifestyle. Free activity.
National Indigenous History Month
Kanehsatake Resistance: Indigenous Women Filmmakers’ Voices and Perspectives
Sunday, June 15, 2025, 1 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. – At the Museum – Free
A double feature for the 35th anniversary of the Kanehsatake Resistance will explore this pivotal historic moment through the eyes of two Indigenous women filmmakers: Alanis Obomsawin and Tracey Deer.
L’étoile du jour
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – Paid activity – Mount Royal
In collaboration with Je lis autochtone, the McCord Stewart Museum invites the public to an immersive experience on Mount Royal with multidisciplinary artist Jocelyn Sioui as he reads L’étoile du jour.
Rethinking Our Relationship to Nature: Perspectives from Art, Indigenous Knowledge and Philosophy
Thursday, June 19, 2025, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. – At the Museum – Free
The AgeTeQ Lab and the Arts and Health Axis of the Research Chair in the Creative Economy and Well-Being (CREAT), in partnership with the McCord Stewart Museum, will be hosting an evening of shared knowledge featuring Joey Partridge (Inuit singer), Simon Walls (composer), Ghislain Picard (Adjunct Professor, HEC Montréal) and Corine Pelluchon (philosopher). This event will be a space for reflection on contemporary ecological issues and will help us redefine our relationship to the living world.
Family activities
Family workshop: Looking After My City
Saturdays and Sundays, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. On until October 25, 2025
To round out their visit to Pounding the Pavement: Montreal Street Photography, visitors are invited to create their own vision of Montreal using magnetic images and coloured pencils. The activity invites families to draw inspiration from the urban photographs in the exhibition to think about ways they can take care of Montreal. This is a great opportunity to talk with children about the future of our city!
Rally Around the Museum
Ongoing
Free with admission to the Museum.
This is a fun activity for children to pick out artworks, objects and characters related to the themes of photography, fashion and Indigenous cultures!
Recommended for children aged 6 to 11.
Natu-natshishkueu: The Adventure of Connection
Ongoing
Free with admission to the Museum.
Presented by Hydro-Québec, Natu-natshishkueu: The Adventure of Connection invites family members to team up to discover the permanent exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience.
New membership program
About
Since the start of May, Museum members have enjoyed unlimited admission for $35 a year, which means that the membership pays for itself by the second visit. With Exclusive Access for $135, members get admission to the Museum with a guest at any time, free admission to over 300 North American museums with the ROAM card, as well as exclusive guided tours, event invitations and discounts at the Boutique, Café Notman and the Museum’s cultural partners.
Opening Hours and Admission Fees
Opening hours
Regular opening hours (until June 22 and from September 2)
Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for Wednesday (10 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
Summer opening hours (from June 23 to September 1)
Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for Wednesday (10 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
Special opening hours:
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day – Tuesday, June 24 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Canada Day – Tuesday, July 1 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Labour Day – Monday, September 1 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission Fees
Starting June 17, 2025:
Online ticketing (+$2 at the door): Adults: $20 | Seniors: $19 | Students (18 to 30): $15 | Indigenous persons: free | 17 and under: free*
Wednesday evenings: free (Little Burgundy – Evolving Montreal by Andrew Jackson and permanent exhibition) or $10 (+$2 at the door) (2nd-floor exhibitions).
First Sunday of the month: Pay what you can.
The McCord Stewart Museum would like to thank BMO Financial Group for the free Wednesday evenings, the Fondation J.A. DeSève for free admission for children aged 12 and under, and the Rossy Foundation for free admission for young people aged 13 to 17.
*Free admission for ages 17 and under on presentation of ID. Offer valid for general public visits only. Groups of more than 15 people and organized groups must refer to the group rates.
*Free for children 12 and under. Maximum of three children per adult. Offer valid for general public visits only. Organized groups must refer to the group rate
The McCord Stewart Museum
About
A landmark in the heart of Montreal for over 100 years, the McCord Stewart Museum bears witness to the history of Quebec’s metropolis as well as its influence in Canada and around the world, celebrating the vitality, creativity and diversity of the communities that make it up.
The Museum amplifies their voices by interpreting and disseminating the remarkable heritage under its custody: six expansive collections of 2.5 million images, objects, documents and works of art that make it one of North America’s leading museums.
In keeping with its commitment to decolonization and sustainable development, its exhibitions and educational, cultural and community-engagement activities that look at the social history and contemporary issues affecting its audiences through a critical and inclusive lens, inspiring them to act for a fairer society.
Information and interview requests
Marc-André Champagne
Officer, Public Relations
514 861-6701, ext. 1239
marc-andre.champagne@mccord-stewart.ca
Merci à nos partenaires
