MONTREAL.-The 5th edition of La Biennale de Montréal, organized by the Centre international d'art contemporain de Montréal (CIAC), will be held from through July 8th, 2007, under the theme Crack the Sky. Featured will be a selection of recent and unpublished works, created by well-known and emerging artists from around the world, with more than 60 artists from Quebec, Canada and many other countries including South Africa, Brazil, China, Denmark, USA, Peru, the United Kingdom and Uruguay.

Grouped together under various themes, the exhibits, which will be presented over an area spread over more than 50,000 square feet, will be seen in six venues across the city: École Bourget, the Galerie de l'UQAM, the Galerie Liane and Danny Taran at the Saidye Bronfman Centre, the Parisian Laundry, The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the Cinémathèque québécoise. Works using various techniques will include painting, sculpture, video, photography, film and mixed media.

Wayne Baerwaldt, Guest Commissioner: Wayne Baerwaldt, an independent curator and writer, director of the Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Alberta College of Art & Design has been invited as guest Commissioner for the 5th edition of La Biennale de Montréal. In giving an account of what is the most stimulating contribution of contemporary art Wayne Baerwaldt let himself be guided by aesthetic and socio-political issues that mark our paradox-rich times. Whether they draw their inspiration from tribal art, explore the notion of document or artefact or create the curio shops of the XXIst century, invited artists take an interest, among other subjects, in the crossbreeding of individual and collective identities, the shift in national borders and the impact of religious beliefs.

Drawing from the wide range of media available today, Crack the Sky artists will make use of various tools including sociology, anthropology and history in interpreting today's realities and in giving them an aesthetic form. Consequently, they generate unique representation systems and works that are equally provocative and inspiring.

In addition to its exhibits, La Biennale de Montréal 2007 is organizing an evening of musical and artistic performances, including a first Canadian film screening as well as a rich and educational component in conjunction with its various partners. Educational activities target two groups, i.e. schools and the general public. La Biennale has set up a competition Become an Art Critic, offers workshops in the schools of the Commission scolaire de Montréal, guided tours of artworks, the La ville dans ma lentille project with Oxy-jeunes, and Oser la création contemporaine with the collaboration of the Festival Trans-Amériques. La Biennale is also focusing its interests on design and architecture. A programme of cultural "walk-abouts" has been set up around three attraction poles, with the public being invited to discover public artworks as well as the architectural wonders of the city. Walking tours are described in detail in La Biennale brochure which is available at the various exhibition sites and on the Website.

In keeping with his determination to increase awareness and interest in contemporary art among the general public, Claude Gosselin, founder and artistic and general director of the CIAC, invited author and actor Raymond Cloutier to act as the spokesperson for the 5th edition of La Biennale de Montréal .

Through the quality and daring of its programs and activities, La Biennale de Montréal 2007 intends to bring to light the predominance of art, its vitality and its ability to generate debate and to foster new ideas.