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- Source of title proper: Title based on the content of the fonds
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Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1990-1997 (Creation)
- Creator
- La Société du 5 avril
Physical description area
Physical description
1.29 meters of textual documents
16 computer disks ; 9 x 9 cm
3 photographs.
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Archival description area
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Administrative history
The Société du 5 avril was founded April 5, 1990 when seven artistic enterprises, all tenants of the building at 4060 St. Laurent Blvd., were threated with eviction by the building's owners who had decided to sell their spaces as part of a condominium development. The hastily formed group included Articule, DARE-dare, Dazibao, La Centrale, Main Film, Skol and Vox Populi and was incorporated on June 6, 1990 under the name Société du 5 avril. Its purpose was to develop a centre for non-profit groups. The Société's mandate was to purchase, adapt and manage a centre for self-managed organizations in the visual and media arts. It aimed to provide greater visibility for its members as well as adequate permanent spaces; the Société would also allow its members the benefits of purchasing their supplies in bulk.
The members were forced to vacate their premises at 4060 St. Laurent before May 1, 1991, and the Société quickly ordered an initial pre-feasibility study which recommended a temporary relocation. DARE-dare, Dazibao, La Centrale and Skol moved to rented quarters at 279 Sherbrooke St. West; the other three organizations moved elsewhere. Next, the Société undertook a feasibility study regarding acquisition and development of a permanent building. The first phase of the study, a presentation on the parameters of the project, was completed in October 1993. The second stage began with a study of the technical aspects of the project. Meanwhile, the Société du 5 avril chose the building which best suited the members' needs. It was a former foundry situated at 735-745 Ottawa Street in the up-and-coming Faubourg des Récollets adjacent to Montreal's Old Quarter. An architect's report on the building concluded the second phase of the feasibility study; the three-volume document was deposited in the spring of 1995.
However, the Ottawa Street project was not realized. After some reconsideration, several members of the Société moved to spaces in the building at 460 St. Catherine Street West. The Société du 5 avril officially wrapped up its operations on February 28, 1997.
Custodial history
Following the cessation of operations of the Société du 5 avril, the documents were kept by the La Centrale Gallery. The fonds was transferred from Concordia University's Records Management and Archives Department to Concordia University Libraries' Special Collections April 13, 2016 and June 8, 2016.
Scope and content
The fonds relates to the management and activities of the Société du 5 avril of Montreal, from its inception in 1990 through the cessation of operations in 1997. It primarily documents the Société's efforts to launch a self-managed artist's centre and the plan to acquire a building for that purpose.
The fonds is composed of feasibility studies, working files, correspondence, and promotional documents.
The fonds is arranged in the following series:
P170/A Administration
P170/A,1 Founding documents and histories
P170/A,2 General meetings
P170/B Financial administration
P170/B,1 Fund-raising
P170/B,2 Accounting
P170/B,3 Banking
P170/B,4 Taxes
P170/B,5 Financial statements
P170/C Buildings, equipment and supplies
P170/C,1 Equipment and supplies
P170/C,2 Buildings
P170/D Communications and public relations
P170/E Feasibility studies
P170/E,1 Working documents
P170/E,2 Reference documentation
P170/E,3 Member files
P170/E,4 Lists of equipment required
P170/E,5 Reports
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
The fonds was acquired from La Centrale Gallery in April 2002.
Arrangement
The arrangement of the documents was done by the archivist.
Language of material
- French
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