The MNBAQ 
Contemporary 
Art Award, 
a prestigious accolade

This award has become essential to the vitality of contemporary art in Québec. It celebrates the careers of promising Québec artists who have been practicing for 5 to 20 years, giving their careers a tremendous boost. It also fills a need to promote contemporary art and share it with the public.

This award allows the MNBAQ to be a leader in the Québec art world by encouraging local artists—the artists of today—and supporting them on their journey.  

Artists are chosen by a panel based on the excellence of their creations. The five-member panel is chaired by Bernard Lamarche, Curator of Contemporary Art (1960-present) at the MNBAQ.  

Since the award was created in 2013, the works of four Québec artists—Diane Morin (2015), Carl Trahan (2017), Numa Amun (2019), and Stanley Février (2021)—have garnered exceptional recognition.  

In 2023, a new version of the award allowed five artists to win. Maria Ezcurra, Anahita Norouzi, Celia Perrin Sidarous, Eve Tagny, and Sara A. Tremblay received a grant and the chance to take part in a group exhibition. Anahita Norouzi was crowned the grand champion of that edition, resulting in a publication on her career and the acquisition of her works for the MNBAQ collections.  

The winning artists for 2025 are Eruoma Awashish, Rémi Belliveau, Michelle Lacombe, Anne-Marie Proulx, and Santiago Tamayo Soler.

    • Anahita Norouzi, winner of the 2023 Contemporary Arts Prize, posing in front of her artwork at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.
    • Works by Numa Amun, winner of the 2017 Contemporary Arts Prize, at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
    • Two women admiring the work by Numa Amun, winner of the 2017 Contemporary Arts Prize, at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.
    • Works by Stanley Février, winner of the 2021 Contemporary Arts Prize, at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.

A special jury comprising Eve- Lyne Beaudry, Director of Collections and Research at the MNBAQ, Bernard Lamarche, Curator of Contemporary Art (1960 to the present) at the MNBAQ, and Michèle Thériault, an independent curator, has declared artist Michelle Lacombe the overall winner of the sixth edition.

In addition to a cash award and participation in the group exhibition of the five winners, a monograph devoted to Michelle Lacombe’s work will be published in 2026, and the MNBAQ will acquire works by the artist. Learn more by reading the press release.

    • Michelle Lacombe, winner of the 2025 Contemporary Arts Prize, posing in front of her artwork at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.
    • The works of Michelle Lacombe, winner of the 2025 Contemporary Arts Prize, at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.

“As one of RBC Emerging Artists’ flagship projects, the MNBAQ Contemporary Art Award is a way for us to continue this wonderful journey with the Musée. The RBC Foundation is pleased to contribute to the sustainability of this unique award in Québec and to know that we are making a significant difference in the careers of local artists.”
Nicolas Audet-Renoux, Regional Vice-President, Québec, Beauce, Québec Central and Mauricie, RBC Royal Bank

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