Society for Arts and Technology

What Society for Arts and Technology does

Society for Arts and Technology (SAT) is a Montreal-based non-profit organization (OBNL) founded in 1996 that operates as a multidisciplinary cultural and research laboratory dedicated to developing digital culture. The organization combines under one roof an immersive theater (the Satosphère), a public research center, a training center, a concert hall (Espace SAT), a café (Café SAT), and a bistro (Pavillon). Its flagship infrastructure, the Satosphère, is the world's first permanent immersive modular theater—an 18-meter diameter dome with 360° spherical projection, 8 video projectors, 93.5 speakers, and 350-spectator capacity. SAT's Innovation Department develops proprietary tools including the Haptic Floor (modular interactive floor with haptic actuators), Suite SAT (software for immersive environments), Carto (spatial calibration via RGBD sensors), Livepose (pose detection), PointMapper (motion capture), Audiodice (3D volumetric sound), and Mmesh/Telluriq (real-time control systems). The organization also operates the Satellite virtual space, a browser-based 3D social environment built on Mozilla Hubs.

SAT serves multiple customer segments: digital artists and creators (through its residency program that has produced 180+ immersive works since 2010), electronic music and immersive experience audiences (concerts, DJ events like Dômesicle), families and youth (workshops, summer camps, school visits), adult learners (training in Ableton, DJing, VJing, After Effects), seniors, and organizations renting SAT spaces for corporate and cultural events. Revenue is generated through event ticketing (via Tixr), venue and equipment rentals, training program fees, food and beverage operations, and—critically as a non-profit—donations and institutional government funding from partners including Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Patrimoine canadien, Conseil des arts du Canada, Ville de Montréal, and MEIE. All revenues are reinvested into the organization's mission under its social economy model.

Name

Society for Arts and Technology

Legal name

Société des arts technologiques

Website

https://sat.qc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Society for Arts and Technology (SAT) is a Montreal-based non-profit cultural organization founded in 1996 that operates the Satosphère immersive dome theater and develops proprietary audiovisual and haptic technologies, serving digital artists, immersive arts audiences, learners, and event producers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immersive Arts & Cultural Technology Center

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Virtual Event Platforms & Production Services (Streaming, Engagement, Moderation) (MPAGAOAO), Virtual & Hybrid Event Platforms (Webinars, Virtual Venues, Event Hubs) (THAHAOAA)

Keywords

• Immersive dome theater
• Digital arts residencies
• Creative technology training
• Haptic floor installations
• Cultural venue rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Tickets and Admissions: SAT generates revenue through ticket sales for concerts, immersive experiences, DJ events (Dômesicle), dome screenings, and performances via Tixr ticketing platform. Free events also drive foot traffic to paid amenities.
2. Space and Venue Rental: L'Espace SAT is available for rental to artists, organizations, and promoters for digital art events. Technical production coordination services support these rentals.
3. Training Programs and Workshops: Evening courses and formations for adults covering DJing, music production (Ableton), VJing, 2D animation (After Effects), and workshops for seniors. Also includes youth creative workshops and summer day camps.
4. Food and Beverage (Pavillon & Café SAT): Pavillon is the bar/buvette with an affordable menu in a festive atmosphere. Café SAT serves food and beverages. Both drive ancillary revenue from event attendees and general public.
5. Donations and Philanthropy: As a non-profit organization (OBNL) with a social economy model, SAT reinvests all revenues into its mission. Donations support preservation of Montreal's artistic ecosystem and fund programming.
6. Government and Institutional Funding: SAT receives support from government partners including Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Patrimoine canadien, Conseil des arts du Canada, Ville de Montréal, and other institutional partners for operations and specific programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Society for Arts and Technology (SAT) is a Montreal-based non-profit cultural organization that operates the Satosphère, the world's first permanent immersive modular theatre featuring a 360° spherical projection dome. It offers ticketed immersive experiences, concerts, and DJ events; artist residency programs that have produced over 180 immersive works; training programs in creative technologies; youth workshops and day camps; venue rental at Espace SAT; on-site food and beverage at Pavillon and Café SAT; and proprietary R&D technologies including the Haptic Floor and Suite SAT software tools.

Product overview

The Society for Arts and Technology (SAT) is a multidisciplinary cultural organization offering a unified ecosystem of immersive arts and technology services. Its core offerings center on the Satosphère—the world's first permanent immersive dome theater with 360° spherical projection and spatial audio—alongside artist residency programs that have produced over 180 immersive works. The organization provides training programs in creative technologies and operates R&D facilities developing proprietary tools including the Haptic Floor (interactive modular floor with haptic feedback), Suite SAT (software collection for immersive environments), Carto (spatial calibration), Livepose (motion detection), PointMapper (motion capture), Audiodice (3D speakers), Mmesh (real-time control), and Telluriq (configuration interface). Additional offerings include the Satellite virtual space (web-based 3D social environment), Pavilion restaurant, Café SAT, and Espace SAT venue rentals. The portfolio spans physical venues, virtual spaces, software tools, and educational programs, all interconnected to support immersive artistic creation and digital arts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Satosphère: The first permanent immersive modular theatre dedicated to artistic creation, featuring an 18-meter diameter dome with 8 video projectors, 93.5 speakers, and 360-degree spherical projection screen
• Satellite
• Plancher Haptique (Haptic Floor)
• Café SAT
• Pavillon

Products and services

• Satosphère Immersive Theatre The Satosphère is the world's first permanent immersive modular theatre featuring an 18m diameter dome with 360° spherical projection, 8 video projectors, and 93.5 speakers for immersive audiovisual experiences accommodating up to 350 spectators. It hosts ticketed concerts, immersive dome screenings, DJ events, and artistic performances.
• Formation / Training Programs Evening courses, workshops, and creative technology training for adults and youth covering topics such as 2D animation with After Effects, DJing, music production with Ableton, and VJing. Also includes specialized workshops for seniors and private group training.
• Artist Residencies Creation residency program offering artistic and technical support along with SAT equipment for artists developing immersive works. Over 180 immersive works have been created through this program.
• Espace SAT Venue Rental An avant-garde urban venue available for rental to artists, organizations, and promoters, featuring industrial design, variable configuration, and substantial audiovisual equipment for digital art events and performances. Technical production coordination services are provided.
• Haptic Floor (Plancher Haptique) An interactive modular floor composed of triangular tiles with actuators providing 2cm vertical travel for haptic feedback. Enables multisensory immersive experiences combining haptics and multimedia for museums, stages, and immersive rooms. Controlled via Mmesh (Linux-based real-time system) and Telluriq interface, compatible with OSC messages for XR, VR, AR, and interactive installations.
• Satellite Virtual Space An immersive and social digital 3D environment accessible via web browser, developed as a transdisciplinary platform for artists to create and present virtual experiences at the intersection of mixed reality, holography, and interactivity. Supports virtual exhibitions, hybrid theatrical performances, and collaborative virtual events.
• Pavillon (Buvette) A social club-inspired bar and bistro at the SAT offering affordable menus in a festive, casual atmosphere for event attendees and general public.
• Café SAT On-site café at the SAT venue serving food and beverages to event attendees and general public.
• Research & Development Services Public research center producing technological and methodological commons that are transferable to practice communities, developing tools for immersive creation including the Haptic Floor, Suite SAT software, and other proprietary technologies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 180+ immersive works created since 2010 through artist residency program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration18 records

AI capability8 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gouvernement du Québec (MEIE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding for R&D activities including haptic floor design and prototyping. Collaboration with Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et de l'Énergie du Québec on technological innovation projects.
• Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor institutional funding partner supporting artistic creation and cultural programming at SAT.
• Patrimoine canadien / Canadian HeritagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal government funding for cultural programming and accessibility initiatives.
• Conseil des arts du Canada / Canada Council for the ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal arts council funding for artistic research and creation programs.
• Conseil des arts de MontréalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal arts council supporting local cultural initiatives and artist residencies.
• Ville de MontréalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Montreal support for cultural operations and Quartier des Spectacles activities.
• Partenariat du Quartier des SpectaclescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting SAT's location and programming within Montreal's cultural district.
• Open Living Labs (ENoLL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAT is a member of the Open Living Labs network, a European initiative of more than 170 research and innovation centers around the world.
• MITACScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership supporting innovation through academic-industrial partnerships and talent development.
• D-BOXcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for haptic floor development. D-BOX technologies integrated into Mmesh control system for haptic actuator control.
• Tech3 Lab (Université de Sherbrooke)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration with university laboratory focused on technology innovation.
• HEC MontréalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for business and management research related to cultural organizations.
• École de technologie supérieure (ETS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering school partnership for technology research and student projects.
• CR CHUMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration with Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal for health-related immersive projects.
• Centre national de recherche scientifique (CNRS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research partnership with France's national research agency.
• UbisoftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor and technology industry partner supporting digital arts and innovation.
• Hydro-QuébecminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting cultural programming and sustainable operations.
• Caisse culture DesjardinsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial partner and sponsor supporting cultural initiatives.
• TixrcoreTechnology or IntegrationTicketing platform partner for online event ticket sales and transaction processing. Tixr hosts SAT's event ticketing on AWS infrastructure in Ireland.
• Printemps numériqueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated partner for digital arts programming and distribution.
• XN QuébecminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated partner for digital arts and technology initiatives in Quebec.
• MUTEKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presentation of Village Numérique with MUTEK and XN Québec for Fossilation installation and digital arts programming.
• Concordia UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch-creation collaboration through Fossilation project involving Milieux Institute Speculative Life Biolab and Research Chair in Critical Practices in Materials and Materiality.
• École des Arts Décoratifs – PSL (Paris)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research-creation partnership for Fossilation project with EnsadLab laboratory.
• University of Toronto MississaugacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partnership contributing to Fossilation research-creation project.
• Les Productions Figure 55coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Résonances Boréales immersive performance featuring Roman Zavada.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Place des Arts: Montreal's principal performing arts center located in the same Quartier des Spectacles as SAT. Operates multiple performance halls and presents programming in music, dance, and theater — directly comparable to SAT's role as a performing arts presenter, though Place des Arts focuses on conventional rather than immersive formats.
• Ars Electronica: Austrian cultural institution operating the Ars Electronica Center, Futurelab, and annual festival in Linz — focused on the intersection of art, technology, and society. Comparable to SAT in combining a research lab, public exhibition space, and festival programming dedicated to digital and immersive arts.
• TeamLab: Japanese interdisciplinary art collective producing large-scale immersive digital art installations and permanent venues worldwide (TeamLab Planets, TeamLab Borderless). Directly comparable to SAT as a producer of immersive audiovisual experiences, though operates commercially and at significantly larger scale across multiple global cities.
• La Gaîté Lyrique: Paris-based digital arts and contemporary music venue presenting exhibitions, concerts, and immersive experiences with a focus on the intersection of technology and artistic creation. Closely comparable to SAT as a publicly-funded venue specializing in digital arts, immersive experiences, and artist residencies.
• Meow Wolf: US-based immersive art experience company operating permanent exhibition venues (House of Eternal Return, Convergence Station) that combine large-scale immersive environments with technology-driven narrative experiences. Comparable to SAT's Satosphère in creating destination immersive venues, though with a commercial for-profit model and broader geographic reach.
• National Arts Centre (Canada): Canada's national performing arts venue in Ottawa, presenting music, theater, and dance with federal government funding support. Comparable to SAT as a federally-funded Canadian performing arts organization, though with a conventional rather than immersive technology focus and Ottawa rather than Montreal base.
• Centre Phi: Montreal contemporary art center focused on image-based and new media arts, presenting exhibitions and immersive installations in the Quartier des Spectacles. Directly comparable to SAT as a Montreal-based contemporary/immersive arts presenter with overlapping artist communities and audiences.

Broad incumbents

• Cité de la Musique - Philharmonie de Paris: Major Parisian performing arts complex combining concert halls, museum exhibitions, and educational programs under public institutional governance. Comparable to SAT's integrated venue model (theater + research + training + F&B) and public funding structure, though at much larger scale and focused on classical music rather than digital arts.
• Sphere Entertainment (MSG Sphere): US-listed company operating the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas, a 18,600-seat immersive venue with proprietary large-format display and spatial audio technology. Comparable to SAT's Satosphère as a large-scale immersive venue operator, though at vastly greater scale and capital intensity, and oriented toward mass-market concert and event experiences.

Regional players

• Cinémathèque québécoise: Montreal-based film archive and cinematheque operating a museum, screening rooms, and exhibition spaces dedicated to cinema heritage. Comparable to SAT's Satosphère programming of immersive film works (e.g., Reveries of a Solitary Trucker) and overlapping Montreal cultural audiences, though focused on cinema rather than performing arts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/satmontreal
• Facebookfacebook.com/satmontreal

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Society for Arts and Technology