The first project of Ateliers créatifs Montréal, Chat des Artistes, is a building dedicated to creation for artists, artisans, and cultural organizations. This building, which was a textile factory in the 1960s, was inaugurated on December 4th, 2008 as the Chat des artistes. It has now become a unique place of creative synergy. Spread over three floors and 30,000 square feet, 46 ateliers and more than 65 artists, artisans, and cultural organizations have settled in the building. To date, about a hundred contractual and regular jobs have been created in more than 25 artistic practices.

Ateliers créatifs Montréal is a non-profit organization that was established to counter the artists’ exodus from Montreal’s central districts. Its mission is to support creation by developing and ensuring the continued existence of places that are dedicated to creation. The organization reaches its goals by offering artists, artisans, and cultural organizations workspaces that are appropriate at affordable rents and free of real estate speculation risks. ACM advocates the importance of keeping artists in the districts that they have helped revitalize.