CULTURAL MEDIATION
This section presents various cultural mediation initiatives designed to foster accessibility, participation, and critical reflection around artworks.
My First Visit to the Museum
This activity is designed for preschool-aged children accompanied by an adult. Through a series of games, young children are encouraged to develop their language skills as well as their ability to reflect, analyze, and make associations. Taking turns, the adult and the child become guide and then visitor. Using the various tools provided in the kit, they are invited to share their emotions, ideas, and opinions!
A pre- and post-visit activity booklet is also available at the Musée d’art de Joliette’s gift shop.
This project was developed in collaboration with Curator of Education Ariane Cardinal, and made possible thanks to financial support from the Comité régional pour la valorisation de l’éducation through the Fonds pour la persévérance scolaire et la réussite éducative of the Ministry of Education. It welcomed children from the Passe-Partout program of the Centre des services scolaires des Samares, along with their parents.
An adapted version of the kit for families is also available at the Musée d’art de Joliette’s front desk.
2022
Seeing Beyond
This card game is a playful way to sharpen your eye and spark curiosity about artworks. It’s designed for both seasoned museum-goers looking to discover new ways of appreciating art, and newcomers who want accessible tools to better understand what they’re seeing. Although the game was created with adults in mind, children are sure to enjoy playing it with their family! It can be played solo or in a group.
The game is available for purchase at the Musée d’art de Joliette’s gift shop, online, and at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.
You can also borrow a copy at the Musée d’art de Joliette’s front desk to experience it right in the galleries.
How to Play
Choose three artworks:
- One that you like
- One that intrigues you
One that unsettles or disturbs you
For each artwork, draw 7 cards (1 from each category) and lay them out on the game board. Open your mind and have fun answering the questions. Repeat these steps for the three artworks you selected. When you’ve completed your rounds, draw a “Destiny” card. This final card invites you to reflect playfully on art in general.
This game was developed in collaboration with Curator of Education Ariane Cardinal. All illustrations were created by me.
2022
What if we truly listened to one another?
Following six workshops, Deaf signers were introduced to visual art and museology with the goal of creating a body of work exploring Deaf culture and the daily challenges of communication. Visitors were invited to discover this world through a unique temporary exhibition.
As part of this project, three video capsules in LSQ (Langue des signes québécoise) were made available online to improve accessibility for all our audiences—particularly Deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors:
How to Plan Your Visit to the Musée d’art de Joliette
The History of the Collection: Over 8,900 Artworks
The Permanent Exhibition: The Gathered Islands
A project by the Association des Sourds de Lanaudière, in collaboration with the Musée d’art de Joliette and the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications.
2019-2020
Family Articles – Museum in Quarantine
“Museum in Quarantine” was launched by the Musée d’art de Joliette (MAJ) team to help the Museum’s community stay connected—creatively and humanely—at the start of the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020.
What began as a simple online exhibition of artworks by citizens quickly evolved into something more.
The blog features monthly themes, open calls for submissions, and articles designed to spark conversation and reflection. The Education Department was tasked with writing articles for children aged 7 to 12 and their families, inviting them to explore the content, get creative, and have fun!
Art in a Box
The “Art in a Box” concept emerged at the beginning of the pandemic, prompted by a key question: How can an education department remain relevant when the Museum is closed to the public?
If you can’t come to the art, the art will come to you.
Art in a Box is a package filled with artist-quality materials, creative prompts, and activity suggestions. It’s designed to spark reflection and encourage conversation around themes, techniques, and artistic practices.
Art in a Box is for everyone—kids and adults alike. You can explore its contents solo at home or join the Musée d’art de Joliette’s community for creative sessions hosted on Zoom.
All creations are showcased on the Museum in Quarantine platform.
Boxes are available for purchase at the Museum’s gift shop.
2020-2022
Ink Night
Ink Night was an all-night creative event in a festive atmosphere!
Focused on the theme of vandalism, the project was developed by youth aged 17 to 35 from the Greater Joliette area, under my guidance and through a collaborative planning table.
The event was free and open to all, with no registration required.
The evening featured:
- A creative workshop space
- Live art performances
- Dance floor and DJ starting at 10 p.m.
- Trivia game
- Dark-room mediation in the exhibition galleries
- Door prizes
A bar service was available throughout the event.
This project was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of Quebec.
2019
The Object of a Life: A Look at Homelessness in Rural Areas
This project is an initiative of the Brandon Committee to Combat Poverty and is part of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Sharing circles were held in various community organizations within the Brandon area that took part in the project.
During these gatherings, we exchanged stories and reflections around the following question:
“If I were suddenly experiencing homelessness, what is the one object I couldn’t live without?”
Participants were invited to join the conversation by bringing that meaningful object with them.
Throughout these discussions, participants were introduced to digital photography and the cyanotype process. Each person was photographed holding their chosen object. The cyanotypes exhibited at the opening were created from these portraits.
2019
Multifaceted
This project is an initiative of the Brandon Committee to Combat Poverty and is part of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
Sharing circles were held in various community organizations within the Brandon area that participated in the initiative.
During these gatherings, we exchanged personal stories and reflections on the many reasons that can lead to sudden homelessness. We came to the conclusion that what we usually perceive as poverty or homelessness is only one facet of many possible realities. Depending on our perspective, we may see one, two, maybe three facets—but the full picture often escapes us.
Throughout these discussions, participants were introduced to the techniques of collage and collagraphy. Together, we explored these methods to design the sides of a cube—each face representing a different dimension of poverty and homelessness.