About the Belgo

The largest concentration of contemporary art galleries in Canada

Located in the Quartier des Spectacles, bordering the Place des Festivals in Montreal, the Belgo building has housed the largest concentration of contemporary art galleries in Canada for nearly 40 years, rising to over thirty in the 2000s. Presenting more than 150 openings, exhibitions, and artistic events annually, the building houses 28 art galleries, art centres, studio galleries, and artist' studios spread over four floors. Nicknamed "the galleries' floor," the 4th floor alone includes more than 12 galleries, art centres, and artist' studios.

Les Rentrées culturelles du Belgo

One of the most popular and anticipated visual arts events in Montreal, the Rentrées culturelles du Belgo takes place on the second Thursdays of January and September, where all of Belgo's galleries, art centres, and artist studios open their doors simultaneously for a huge collective opening across four floors. The building then becomes a veritable contemporary art fair, welcoming several thousand visitors each edition.

La Nuit blanche à Montréal

Another popular event is the Nuit blanche à Montréal, where attendance reaches over 10,000 visitors in a single evening –some galleries alone have attracted up to 6,000 visitors in a single evening, with queues stretching over several floors.

The Belgo Report

The Belgo Building also has its own blog: The Belgo Report, which features reviews of exhibitions from Belgo galleries. Originally created and run by Bettina Forget, it was taken over by Kara Eckler in 2020.

History

Designed in 1912 and completed in 1913 by architects Finley & Spence, the Belgo Building is part of the Cultural Heritage of Quebec. The Belgo takes its name from the Belgo Canadian Pulp & Paper Company, a Brussels-based pulp and paper company whose main mill was located in Shawinigan, seeking to have its headquarters in Montreal. The luxury department store Scroggie's, established in 1913, was replaced by Almy's in 1915, which remained at this location until 1922. Following the exodus of the fur trade district to the Chabanel sector in the 1980s, artists gradually began to settle in the Belgo, organizing temporary exhibitions, then setting up their studios, eventually converting them into galleries. Other galleries quickly followed suit, progressively securing the building's reputation as an art hub.

The Return of the Galleries

Belgo's coordination and revitalization efforts, initiated in 2021—through a comprehensive list of exhibitions, followed with the belgo.art website, designed by Louis-Bernard St-Jean, which presented to the public a bilingual, concise, up-to-date list summarizing all current exhibitions, and openings—combined with the success of the Rentrées culturelles, have reaffirmed the Belgo's position as a true hub of contemporary art and an essential cultural pillar of Montreal. These joint efforts have borne fruit, with the number of galleries more than doubling over the past four years, jumping from 12 galleries, art centres, and artist studios in 2021, to 28 spaces in 2025.

An International Artistic Reputation

The Belgo Building has an international reputation built over decades—notably as the largest concentration of art galleries in Canada, and as a hub for contemporary visual arts in Montreal and Canada. The Belgo remains a renowned tourist attraction, featured in numerous tourist guides for the city of Montreal, the province of Quebec, and of Canada.