Fonderie Darling
Fonderie Darling is a Montreal-based non-profit contemporary visual arts center operating from a renovated 19th-century foundry, serving general visitors, international resident artists and curators, educational groups, and private event clients through exhibitions, residency programs, public programming, and venue rentals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersMontreal, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Fonderie Darling does
Fonderie Darling is a non-profit contemporary visual arts center located in a renovated 19th-century foundry at 745 Place du Sable-Gris in the Pointe-Saint-Charles neighborhood of Montreal, Canada. Founded in 2002 and operated by the parent charitable organization Quartier Éphémère (incorporated 1993, registered charity 141092981RR0001), the center presents contemporary exhibitions in two gallery spaces — the 4,000 sq ft Grande Salle and the 1,100 sq ft Petite Galerie — alongside multi-format public programs including guided tours, the monthly Jeudredi Darling open-studio series, the Place Publique outdoor summer program, and the Mediation Studio for cultural education.
The center operates three residency streams — Résidence Accès Libre (international, 3-6 months), Montreal Studios (multi-year), and Residency of the Americas — providing studio-living spaces (300-1,000 sq ft) to emerging and established artists and curators, with monthly fees ranging from CAD $1,030 to $2,000 plus a CAD $1,000 professional support fee. The venue is also rented for private events (up to 300 guests) between exhibition periods, with catering exclusively provided by partner Le Serpent. Underlying infrastructure includes climate-controlled galleries, professional lighting on electrified rails, 500-amp three-phase electrical capacity, and accessible design.
Revenue is generated across five streams: venue rentals, membership dues (CAD $25/$49/$250 annual tiers), tax-receiptable donations (processed via Zeffy, which waives platform fees), $8 exhibition admission (free Thursdays), and artist residency fees. The organization is sustained by a combination of earned revenue and public grants from Conseil des arts de Montréal and Ville de Montréal, alongside philanthropic support from foundations such as Apricus. Marketing relies on a bilingual website, Mailchimp newsletter, LinkedIn presence, exhibition openings, and reciprocal partnerships with 15+ Montreal cultural institutions including the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, McCord Museum, Canadian Centre for Architecture, and MOMENTA Biennale de l'image.
Fonderie Darling firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fonderie Darling
- Legal name
- Quartier Éphémère
- Website
- https://fonderiedarling.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Fonderie Darling is a Montreal-based non-profit contemporary visual arts center operating from a renovated 19th-century foundry, serving general visitors, international resident artists and curators, educational groups, and private event clients through exhibitions, residency programs, public programming, and venue rentals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fonderie Darling industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Visual Arts Center
- NAICS
- Museums (71211)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Specialty & Historic Venues (Landmarks, Estates) (THAHAAAK), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)
Keywords
Where Fonderie Darling is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montreal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fonderie Darling business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Venue Rentals: Revenue from renting gallery spaces (Grande Salle and Petite Galerie) for private events, exhibitions, and corporate functions when not in use for programming. Catering exclusively provided by Le Serpent restaurant.
- Membership Dues: Annual membership tiers providing recurring revenue: Artists/Students ($25), Friends ($49), and Darlings ($250). Includes voting rights at AGM for some tiers.
- Donations: Tax-receiptable donations accepted online via Zeffy platform (which donates 100% of contributions). Registered charity number 141092981RR0001. Matching eligible donations for significant tax benefits.
- Admission Fees: $8 admission fee to exhibitions with free entry on Thursdays. Special events and most public programs are free.
- Artist Residency Fees: Monthly rent for artist studio-living spaces ($2000 CAD for 1000 sq ft, $1860 CAD for 800 sq ft, $1030 CAD for 300 sq ft) plus professional support fees ($1000 CAD) and optional production studio access ($100 CAD/month)
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Standard admission to all exhibitions |
| Subscription | Annual | Artists, Cultural Community, and Students membership |
| Subscription | Annual | General public supporters |
| Subscription | Annual | Major supporters and close community members |
| Subscription | Monthly | Artist residency studio-living space (1000 sq ft) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Artist residency studio-living space (800 sq ft) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Artist residency studio-living space (300 sq ft) |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Professional support and promotion fee |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Production studio access |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Fonderie Darling product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fonderie Darling is a visual arts center offering contemporary art exhibitions, international artist and curator residency programs (studio-living spaces of 300-1000 sq ft), free public programs (Jeudredi Darling monthly events, Place Publique outdoor activities, Mediation Studio, guided tours), and venue rental services for private events in its converted 19th-century industrial foundry. The center serves emerging and established artists, local residents, tourists, and event organizers in Montreal.
Product overview
Fonderie Darling is a visual arts center offering a comprehensive ecosystem of artistic programs and venues. The center provides contemporary visual art exhibitions (Grande salle and Petite galerie), international artist residencies (Accès Libre, Montreal Studios, Residency of the Americas), and public engagement programs (Jeudredi Darling monthly events, Place Publique outdoor activities, Mediation Studio, and guided tours). Venue rental services complement the offering with spaces for private events. All programs are grounded in the mission of Quartier Éphémère, a non-profit organization founded in 1993, supporting creation, production, and dissemination of contemporary visual art.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Exhibitions Contemporary visual art exhibitions presented in the Grande salle (4,000 sq ft main hall) and Petite galerie (1,100 sq ft small gallery), featuring group and solo shows by international and local artists. Open Wednesday-Sunday, 12h-19h with $8 admission (free on Thursdays).
- Résidence Accès Libre (Open Access Residency) International artist and curator residency program offering studio-living spaces for 3-6 months, with professional artistic support, networking, and promotion services. Studios range from 300 to 1000 sq ft at $1030-$2000 CAD/month.
- Montreal Studios Multi-year artist residency program supporting emerging and established artists with studio spaces and professional development resources at Fonderie Darling.
- Residency of the Americas International residency program fostering artistic exchange across North and South America, supported by the Conseil des arts de Montréal, offering studio-living spaces and professional support.
- Jeudredi Darling Monthly public program featuring open studios with international resident artists, interactive workshops, and free admission on Thursdays, providing community engagement and artist-visitor interactions.
- Place Publique Outdoor creative and learning laboratory featuring participatory workshops, creative walks, and neighborhood events during summer months, all free and open to the public.
- Mediation Studio (Atelier de médiation) Cultural mediation space dedicated to encounters, exchanges, and learning through art education, bridging diverse audiences with artists, supported by the Apricus Foundation.
- Guided Tours Personalized guided tours of exhibitions and artist studios, led by curators or trained guides, designed to help visitors develop tools for appreciating contemporary art, for educational groups and schools.
- Space Rentals Rental of two indoor spaces for private events: Grande salle (4,000 sq ft, 300 person capacity) and Petite galerie (1,100 sq ft, 90 person capacity), plus outdoor terrace during summer. Catering exclusively by Le Serpent restaurant.
- Membership Program Annual membership tiers ($25 Artists/Students, $49 Friends, $250 Darlings) providing recurring revenue and benefits including free admission, event invitations, voting rights at AGM, and partner discounts at 15+ cultural organizations.
Companies that use Fonderie Darling
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Fonderie Darling technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Fonderie Darling partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Nigra IuventacoreNigra Iuventa is a Montreal cultural organization dedicated to African and Afro-descendant artists in contemporary art. Partnership includes joint residency programming for Black Montreal artists and international exchanges. Fonderie Darling hosts Nigra Iuventa's programming including exhibitions like 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' for Black History Month.
- Canadian Centre for ArchitectureminorMember benefit partnership offering Fonderie Darling members free admission to Canadian Centre for Architecture exhibitions as part of reciprocal cultural organization network.
- McCord MuseumminorMember benefit partnership offering Fonderie Darling members free admission to McCord Museum exhibitions as part of reciprocal cultural organization network.
- Montreal Museum of Fine ArtsminorMember benefit partnership offering Fonderie Darling members 15% discount on regular tickets at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
- Le Serpent RestaurantcoreExclusive catering partnership for Fonderie Darling events and venue rentals. Restaurant provides 35% discount to Fonderie Darling members. Located on-site or as exclusive service provider for private events.
- Musée d'art de JolietteminorMember benefit partnership offering Fonderie Darling members 50% discount on admission to Musée d'art de Joliette.
- La Chapelle Scènes ContemporainesminorMember benefit partnership offering Fonderie Darling members 15% discount on regular-priced tickets at La Chapelle Scènes Contemporaines.
- VidéographeminorMember benefit partnership offering 25% discount on Vidéographe platform subscription and access to studios at discounted rates for Fonderie Darling members.
- Concordia UniversityminorAcademic partnership including student exhibitions (MAUREEN X MFA exhibition), co-presented events, and collaborative programming with university departments and student organizations.
- Corridor CulturelminorCollaborative partnership for neighborhood cultural events including the Corridor series combining Fonderie Darling's Place Publique with Corridor Culturel programming.
- MOMENTA Biennale de l'imagecoreOngoing partnership with MOMENTA Biennale for Contemporary Art, hosting exhibition openings and co-presenting cultural mediation programming. Fonderie Darling serves as venue for biennale exhibitions.
- Le SerpentcoreExclusive catering partner with bar service permit. All alcohol must be ordered through Fonderie Darling or Le Serpent, and bottles must be stamped by SAQ.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fonderie Darling competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Headlands Center for the Arts: California-based non-profit artist residency housed in a former military fort. Comparable as a residency-focused non-profit that operates in a distinctive historic site and supports international artists.
- SKOL Centre des arts actuels: Montreal artist-run center supporting contemporary art production, exhibition, and dissemination. Directly comparable as a non-profit visual arts center with similar scale, bilingual programming, and artist support mandate.
- OBORO: Montreal non-profit center for contemporary art and new media, supporting artists through residencies, exhibitions, and public programs. Directly comparable as a bilingual non-profit arts center with residency and exhibition programming.
- Pioneer Works: Brooklyn-based non-profit cultural center combining residencies, exhibitions, and public programs in a converted industrial building. Directly comparable as a nonprofit arts center housed in a heritage industrial space with residency, exhibition, and event programming.
- Centre Clark: Montreal artist-run center providing studio spaces, exhibitions, and residencies for contemporary artists. Directly comparable as a non-profit arts center offering studio access and exhibition programming in Montreal.
- Arsenal Contemporary Art: Montreal and Toronto contemporary art complex presenting large-scale exhibitions and hosting private events. Comparable as a Montreal-based contemporary art venue with exhibition and venue rental operations, though commercially operated.
- Centre Phi: Montreal-based non-profit contemporary art and cultural center presenting exhibitions, residencies, and immersive programming. Directly comparable as a similarly sized Canadian non-profit arts venue with exhibition, residency, and event programming in the same city.
- Galerie de l'UQAM: University art gallery at Université du Québec à Montréal presenting contemporary exhibitions with educational programming. Comparable as a Montreal contemporary art exhibition space with educational and public engagement components.
Broad incumbents
- The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity: Canada's largest post-secondary arts institution offering residencies, exhibitions, and performances. Comparable as a Canadian arts residency center with similar international artist programming, though substantially larger in scale.
- Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal (MAC): Montreal's primary contemporary art museum with permanent collection, major exhibitions, and public programming. Comparable as a larger established institution in the same city and category, though more museum-focused than community/residency-led.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fonderie Darling social profiles
Digital presenceFonderie Darling financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fonderie Darling leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Fonderie Darling funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fonderie Darling 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 Fonderie Darling
What does Fonderie Darling do?
Fonderie Darling is a visual arts center offering contemporary art exhibitions, international artist and curator residency programs (studio-living spaces of 300-1000 sq ft), free public programs (Jeudredi Darling monthly events, Place Publique outdoor activities, Mediation Studio, guided tours), and venue rental services for private events in its converted 19th-century industrial foundry. The center serves emerging and established artists, local residents, tourists, and event organizers in Montreal.
Is Fonderie Darling a public or private company?
Fonderie Darling is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Fonderie Darling founded?
Fonderie Darling was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Fonderie Darling based?
Fonderie Darling is headquartered in Montreal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Fonderie Darling make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Venue Rentals are the primary driver. The others are membership Dues, donations, admission Fees and artist Residency Fees.
Who are Fonderie Darling's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Headlands Center for the Arts, SKOL Centre des arts actuels, OBORO, Pioneer Works, Centre Clark, Arsenal Contemporary Art, Centre Phi and Galerie de l'UQAM. Broad incumbents are The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal (MAC).
Does Fonderie Darling have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fonderie Darling.
What industry is Fonderie Darling in?
Fonderie Darling's product category is Visual Arts Center. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJADAH, Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit), with a secondary code of THAHAAAK, Specialty & Historic Venues (Landmarks, Estates). Its NAICS code is 71211 and its SIC code is 7900.