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Plural takes place from April 21 to 23, 2023 at the Grand Quay in Montreal’s Old Port. The event will bring together over 45 Canadian contemporary art galleries.

The [Contemporary Art Galleries Association](https://www.agac.ca/en/) (AGAC) is proud to announce the new name of its fair: Plural Contemporary Art Fair. After a long process of consideration and a consultation with key players in the art community, AGAC chose Plural for its simplicity, originality and resonance.

"Our new name now reflects the true nature of the event," says Dominique Toutant, co-chair of the AGAC board of directors and director of Blouin Division gallery. Since 2019, the fair is no longer dedicated solely to works on paper - all types of mediums are featured. "The event gives visitors the opportunity to discover and appreciate a plurality of artistic practices in contemporary art." 

The name Plural can also be interpreted as a reference to pluralism, a tenet that recognizes the coexistence of opinions, tendencies and behaviours within a community. "AGAC believes that Plural should showcase the diversity of voices and practices in our community, both emerging and established; and those of the different galleries, artists, or artistic expressions that coexist at the fair," explains Toutant. "The event aims to bring together and represent the best of Canadian contemporary art, an incredible panorama where a plurality of stories are told. In this sense, Plural is a fitting name, full of possibilities."

A new chapter for AGAC's flagship event

Julie Lacroix, director of the Association, is enthusiastic about this milestone in the project's history. "Over the past 15 years, the fair has extended its reach and influence," she summarizes. "Papier's original mission of presenting affordable artworks to encourage the development of new collectors has been accomplished with great success. Today, our art market is stronger and the fair attracts a loyal base of collectors each year. Plural is therefore embarking on its next chapter with the objective of becoming a must-attend event for all Canadian collectors, in order to increase its influence outside Quebec."


Ms. Lacroix adds, "Plural will remain a boutique-size fair, with a welcoming atmosphere that appeals to the general public and collectors alike. While fostering this growth, AGAC remains focused on its most important promise: to present a friendly and inclusive event, where art lovers from all walks of life are welcome to discover and admire the best of contemporary art in the country."

A fair for and by the galleries
For the Association and its members, Plural stands out from other art fairs because of its unique model. "While most fairs around the world are owned by private companies that sometimes manage a portfolio of events, Plural is organized for the galleries by the national association that represents them," explains Abdelilah Chiguer, co-chair of the AGAC board and co-director of Galerie 3."It is important for AGAC to promote best practices in the art market, while cultivating a sense of community within our industry. When we work together, we achieve more: in this sense, we hope that Plural will fosters collaboration between galleries and the building of new bridges within the ecosystem of the Canadian art world.

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Papier becomes Plural

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Corporate collectors benefit from considerable tax advantages from the Quebec government in the amortization of the purchase of works of art. It is especially good to keep this information in mind at art fairs, the best place to find art to invest in.


For any work of art acquired for the purpose of displaying it in its place of business and whose author is a Canadian citizen or resident at the time of the creation of the property, the company can amortize 33.3% of the cost of the acquisition annually on a residual basis.


Conditions to be met :


– The work of art must have been produced by an artist who was a Canadian citizen or permanent resident at the time it was created;


– The work must have been acquired from a person at arm’s length;


– The work must have been acquired for the exclusive purpose of earning business income, such as decorating a reception area, meeting room, hallway or shareholder’s office, and must be in full view of the company’s customers. The recipient may not take the work to their personal residence unless they have an office where clients visit, as is the case for some self-employed individuals (lawyers, accountants, consultants, etc.).


In the case of a donation to a museum, the fair value of a work of art is increased to 25%.


However, not all artworks are eligible.


To understand all the tax benefits available to businesses, talk to a registered tax professional.


For complete details on eligible works of art, refer to the articles of law provided below.


[Regulation respecting income tax, chapter 1-3, r.1, sections 130R1 and following.](http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=3&file=/I_3/I3R1.HTM)


[The Taxation Act, Art. 710 and following.](http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=/I_3/I3_4.html)


Is it possible to obtain a tax credit when buying art?

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What determines the value of an artwork?

The nature of the work:

The first thing to consider is the nature of the work—in other words, its medium and size. For example, sculptures tend to be more expensive than paintings, which in turn are more expensive than works on paper. Unique works on paper such as drawings, collages or watercolours are generally worth more than multipleprint works such as photographs.

It’s also important to bear in mind that print editions for photographs tend to be small (3-15 prints), whereas editions for other types of prints, such as silkscreen works or etchings, are generally higher (20 or more prints are common). The edition size affects the price; the larger the edition, the less expensive the work. 

The dimensions of the work also influence its value, but to a lesser degree. Works by the same artist will range in price according to their size.

The artist’s career:

Another aspect to consider is the artist’s professional background. A CV provides several valuable clues about the artist’s career and practice. It includes a list of solo and group exhibitions, the institutional and corporate collections to which the artist’s works belong, residencies, and a list of grants or awards received. The CV also indicates whether the artist’s work has been reviewed in the press or featured in publications. It is always available on the gallery website and the artist’s personal website. 

Bear in mind that, in the case of many exhibitions, the work has undergone a rigorous selection process by a jury of peers—a competitive process that is also the norm for grants and residencies. The acquisition of a work by a museum is a prestigious form of recognition. The same is true for corporate collections, where works are selected by a curator—a professional whose principal mandate is to manage, build and showcase the company’s artistic assets.

One should also consider the artist’s experience. Generally speaking, the longer the artist’s career, the more valuable the works. An artist who is starting out (often referred to as a new or emerging artist) generally has less than 10 years of practice. A mid-career artist has more than 10 years of experience, and an established artist has over 20 years of practice. 

Although these are approximate measures, they will help you to better appreciate the artist’s experience and to compare his or her prices with those of artists at a similar stage in their career. You may want to keep this information in mind when visiting art fairs.

What determines the value of an artwork?

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The artworks and virtual fair will be open to the public for free from April 21 to May 7, 2023.
For VIP ticket holders, access begins at noon on April 14. Get your tickets!

Create an account to access the virtual fair!

With your VIP account, get an exclusive preview of the artworks here, on plural.art, before the official opening of the fair on April 21. To log in, enter the VIP number on your  VIP ticket. Enjoy your visit!

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We can pass on your name and email address to the owners of this gallery so that they can contact you in the future. These communications will inform you of the latest works of the artists they represent and gallery events.

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