This “Seed Bomb” event is the result of a collaborative project exploring the transformational capacity of art in political decision making. Featuring sculptures, interactive installations, performances, open conversations, and documentation of our collective creative process, this ephemeral happening is intended to engage participants in active critical thinking and imagining of futures in a new, organic form of public consultation.

The building we occupy was originally the Arts Centre in Canadian Pavilion of Expo 67, an international cultural exhibition that took place on the two islands of what is now Parc Jean Drapeau. Few of the buildings from the original exposition still stand, but the Canadian Pavilion remains despite a complicated history of use and disuse since the Expo closed.

By activating the unused spaces of the Canadian Pavilion from Expo 67, we hope to stimulate public interest in revitalizing vacant spaces in Montreal and gather alternative proposals for how the city should deal with this building moving forward. We believe it is of the utmost importance to promote the use of artistic interventions in political decision-making processes. This event serves as a facilitating platform inviting artists, activists, community enthusiasts, and visitors to participate in the initial imaginary work necessary to take back and collectively care for this disused site.

For these two days, the Canadian Pavilion, which has sat closed and abandoned for so long, is fully open to the public, both physically and metaphorically. We hope that engagement in conversation and artistic interventions on the politics and potentials of this unique building will “plant a seed” in the minds of visitors about the role of art in politics and alternative methods of collaboration and political change-making. The ultimate goal is to give this historic building back to the community, and for our occupation to result in public action towards occupying the site long-term and allowing it to develop organically as a collective space for innovation, art-making, and idea sharing.

Thought Prompt:

Responding to the resonance of the site and the artistic interventions, ask the space:

What will your purpose become?

What initiatives will die to make space for the ones that move forward?

Who will occupy the Pavilion when our community has gone?