MNBAQ Contemporary Art Award
A distinction that contribues to the recognition and effervescence of Québec contemporary art
Granted every two years through a remarkable partnership between the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec and RBC Foundation, the MNBAQ Contemporary Art Award supports Québec artists by offering them broader recognition and enhanced visibility.
The MNBAQ Contemporary Art Award is the only contemporary art award in Canada that combines an exhibition, a publication, and acquisitions. It fulfils a need to recognize and disseminate contemporary art among the general public in addition to offering support to the artists and to their career development. The award confirms the MNBAQ’s desire to play a leadership role in the realm of Québec art by encouraging the most promising artists and supporting their career development.
Winners
Since 2013, through the generous contribution of the RBC Foundation to the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec and its Fondation, the work of those Québec artists has achieved outstanding recognition:
- Eruoma Awashish, Rémi Belliveau, Michelle Lacombe, Anne-Marie Proulx, and Santiago Tamayo Soler (2025)
- Maria Ezcurra, Sara A.Tremblay, Celia Perrin Sidarous, Eve Tagny and Anahita Norouzi (overall winner) (2023)
- Stanley Février (2021)
- Numa Amun (2019)
- Carl Trahan (2017)
- Diane Morin (2015)
“As one of the flagship projects of the RBC Emerging Artists program, the MNBAQ Contemporary Art Award enables us to pursue this rewarding adventure with the MNBAQ. The RBC Foundation is pleased to contribute to perpetuating this unique award in Québec and to know that we are making a striking difference in the careers of Québec artists.”– Nicolas Audet-Renoux, Regional Vice-President, Quebec, Beauce, Quebec Central and Mauricie, at RBC Royal Bank