Ada X
Ada X is a bilingual feminist artist-run center in Montreal serving women, trans, non-binary, and queer digital and media artists through residencies, workshops, festivals, VR programming, and a 5,000+ document archive, funded primarily by Canadian arts council grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersMontréal, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ada X does
Ada X is a bilingual (French/English) feminist artist-run center based in Montreal, Quebec, operating since 1996 originally as Studio XX and rebranded as Ada X in 2020. The organization serves women, trans, non-binary, and queer artists working in digital and media arts through a portfolio of programs including artist residencies, workshops, the biennial HTMlles Festival, the Allo Ada VR virtual platform, the ffiles Radio audio channel, the .dpi Magazine editorial publication, and the Matricules archive containing over 5,000 documents on feminist media arts practice. Its stated mission centers on digital literacy, creation, and critical thinking through feminist artistic practice.
The organization's underlying technological and programming infrastructure is built around community-accessible digital art tools, co-working space, equipment rental, and a documentation archive. Programming is delivered via in-person residencies and workshops at its 4001 Rue Berri location and through virtual formats via the Allo Ada VR platform. The Matricules archive functions as both a research asset and a programming anchor, while ffiles Radio and .dpi Magazine provide ongoing editorial and audio distribution channels.
Ada X operates as a non-profit funded primarily through competitive grants from the Canada Arts Council and the Quebec Arts Council, supplemented by membership dues and co-working/equipment rental income. Its go-to-market is community-led and grant-driven rather than commercial; there are no disclosed enterprise customers, pricing tiers, or revenue contracts. Leadership is provided by Director General Paulina Abarca-Cantin. The organization does not disclose revenue, headcount, or funding round amounts in the available data.
Ada X firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ada X
- Legal name
- Ada X
- Website
- https://ada-x.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ada X is a bilingual feminist artist-run center in Montreal serving women, trans, non-binary, and queer digital and media artists through residencies, workshops, festivals, VR programming, and a 5,000+ document archive, funded primarily by Canadian arts council grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Ada X is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ada X business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Public Funding and Grants: Ada X operates as a non-profit artist-run center supported by public funding from federal arts councils (Canada Arts Council), Quebec arts councils, and municipal sources. Revenue comes primarily through grants and subsidies rather than commercial revenue.
- Membership Dues: Organization offers membership options for community members and artists, with some events offering free entry for members.
- Services (Co-working, Equipment Rental, Space Rental): Ada X generates revenue through co-working lab access, equipment rental, and gallery/space rental services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | General admission to public events |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Ada X product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ada X is a bilingual feminist artist-run center in Montreal that supports the production, exhibition, and dissemination of work by women, trans, non-binary and queer artists in digital and media arts. Its core offerings include artist residencies, workshops, exhibitions, performances, educational activities, the annual HTMlles Festival, the Allo Ada virtual platform, the Matricules digital archive, ffiles Radio, and a co-working lab with equipment rental. The organization operates primarily as a non-profit funded through public grants, membership dues, and service fees.
Product overview
Ada X operates as a bilingual feminist artist center (formerly Studio XX, renamed in 2020) offering a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offerings include: Allo Ada, a virtual exhibition space built on Mozilla Hubs for web XR experiences hosting artist projects; Matricules, a digital archive of over 5,000 documents documenting the organization's history; ffiles Radio, a feminist media collective producing weekly radio programming; .dpi Magazine, an online journal published 2004-2015; the HTMlles annual festival; artist residencies; workshops and professional training; and a co-working lab facility. These programs collectively support women, trans, non-binary and queer artists in media arts and digital culture.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ffiles (fka XX Files): An intersectional feminist media collective grounded in community radio, producing work exploring technological landscape through programming on CKUT 90.3 FM and N10.AS.
- .dpi
- HTMlles Festival
- Allo Ada
- Matricules
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 5,000 documents archived in Matricules project documenting feminist digital arts history
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Ada X
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ada X technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Ada X partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- GIV (Galerie Intervention Video)minorPartner venue for Tensions video screening at 4001 Rue Berri #105, part of HTMlles 2026 festival programming.
- articuleminorPartner venue for Sineh-be-Sineh workshop at 6282 Rue Saint-Hubert, accessible gallery space for HTMlles 2026 programming.
- Bières Biologiques BoldwinminorBeverage sponsor for HTMlles 2026 festival launch event.
- GutsyminorBeverage sponsor for HTMlles 2026 festival launch event.
- La Centrale Galerie PowerhouseminorPartner venue for HTMlles 2026 workshops and events at 4296 St-Laurent Blvd location.
- Mois numérique jeunesseminorCollaboration on educational activities during March Break 2024, bringing digital arts programming to youth and families.
- Suoni Per il Popolo FestivalminorCollaboration on Salon Femmes br@nchées #63 featuring music and interactivity programming, bringing Swiss artist Franziska Baumann to Montreal.
- Quebec Native Women Inc. (QNW)minorCollaboration on Remix: Voices of Aboriginal Women event at SAT for International Women's Day 2006, addressing violence against Indigenous women.
- Upgrade MontréalminorMonthly gatherings related to culture, art and technology, part of international network with 19 cities. Collaboration on International Women's Day 2006 programming.
- Daniel Langlois Foundation Research and Documentation Center (CR + D)coreCollaborated on the Matricules archival project, contributing to the definition of archiving policies and production of the document catalog. Foundation provided research and documentation support.
- Concordia UniversitycoreCollaborated with Kim Sawchuk on the Matricules archival project, contributing academic research and documentation expertise.
- CKUT 90.3 FMcoreWeekly radio show broadcast on Wednesdays at 11:30 AM EST, reaching community radio audience with feminist media content.
- N10.AS RadiominorMonthly radio show broadcast, expanding reach of ffiles feminist media collective programming.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Ada X competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- VIVO Media Arts Centre: Vancouver-based non-profit media arts center offering production facilities, residencies, workshops, and exhibitions focused on independent media art. Comparable to Ada X as a Canadian artist-run media arts center with co-working and equipment rental models.
- La Centrale Galerie Powerhouse: Montreal-based feminist artist-run gallery and production center serving women and non-binary artists. Functions as a direct peer with overlapping mission, geography, and similar programming including exhibitions, residencies, and workshops. Listed as Ada X partner for HTMlles 2026.
- Galerie B-312: Montreal artist-run center supporting experimentation in contemporary art. Comparable to Ada X as a parallel non-profit artist-run center in Montreal with similar funding structures and programming approaches.
- Centre CLARK: Montreal artist-run center dedicated to contemporary art production and dissemination. Comparable operating model as a Montreal-based artist-run center with exhibitions, residencies, and community programming.
- Trinity Square Video: Toronto non-profit media arts center providing access to video production equipment, workshops, and artist support. Directly comparable as a Canadian artist-run center focused on digital/media arts production and training.
- Studio 303: Montreal artist-run center focused on LGBTQ+ interdisciplinary arts. Comparable as a queer-focused artist-run center in Montreal offering residencies, performances, and community programming with similar non-profit funding structure.
- articule: Montreal artist-run center with a parallel mandate to support emerging and experimental artists through exhibitions, residencies, and publications. Listed as Ada X partner venue for HTMlles 2026.
Broad incumbents
- SAT (Société des arts technologiques): Montreal-based organization dedicated to research, creation, and dissemination of digital arts and immersive experiences. Larger and broader than Ada X but overlaps significantly on digital arts programming, residencies, and educational activities. Listed as Ada X collaborator.
Regional players
- SAW Video Media Art Centre: Ottawa-based non-profit media arts center providing video and media production facilities, residencies, and workshops. Comparable to Ada X as a Canadian media arts non-profit, though serving a different regional market.
- Eastern Front Gallery: Halifax-based artist-run center for contemporary art. Comparable as a Canadian Atlantic artist-run center with similar non-profit structure, residencies, and exhibitions, though serving a different regional market.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ada X social profiles
Digital presenceAda X financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ada X leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Ada X funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ada X M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ada X
What does Ada X do?
Ada X is a bilingual feminist artist-run center in Montreal that supports the production, exhibition, and dissemination of work by women, trans, non-binary and queer artists in digital and media arts. Its core offerings include artist residencies, workshops, exhibitions, performances, educational activities, the annual HTMlles Festival, the Allo Ada virtual platform, the Matricules digital archive, ffiles Radio, and a co-working lab with equipment rental. The organization operates primarily as a non-profit funded through public grants, membership dues, and service fees.
Is Ada X a public or private company?
Ada X is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ada X founded?
Ada X was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ada X based?
Ada X is headquartered in Montréal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Ada X make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Public Funding and Grants are the primary driver. The others are membership Dues and services (Co-working, Equipment Rental, Space Rental).
Who are Ada X's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are VIVO Media Arts Centre, La Centrale Galerie Powerhouse, Galerie B-312, Centre CLARK, Trinity Square Video, Studio 303 and articule. SAT (Société des arts technologiques) is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are SAW Video Media Art Centre and Eastern Front Gallery.
Does Ada X have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ada X.