Critical Distance DIRECTORY Optica, Centre D’art Contemporain

Optica, Centre D’art Contemporain figures among the first artist-run centres in Canada. Since 1972, the centre has sought to promote Canadian contemporary art and to raise awareness among diverse audiences about the issues underlying the discourses and practices in the visual arts through a varied program of exhibitions and critical and educational activities. The centre defines itself as a space of discovery and experimentation and as a reference point in contemporary art for all audiences. It invests in research, documentation, publication, curated exhibitions, and cultural mediation through a public educational program that also provides professional resources and research activities. All these programs serve to acquire and develop a familiarity and understanding of contemporary art, focusing on both emerging and established artists on the Canadian art scene.