Frequently Asked Questions

BOARD OF MONTRÉAL MUSEUM DIRECTORS (BMMD)

• What museums are members of the Board? Currently, the BMMD brings together 38 museums in the Montréal region devoted to art, film and television, history, the First Nations and Inuit peoples, archeology, architecture and science. Fun and exciting discoveries guaranteed! Click here to see the list of member museums.
• What is the Board’s mission? Founded in 1987, the Board of Montréal Museum Directors (BMMD) brings together the chief administrators of numerous museums across the Montréal region. Its mission is to support the visibility and awareness of Montréal museums by promoting their activities and defending their interests. It also encourages the development of communication, mutual assistance and cooperation between these institutions with a view to making culture more accessible and helping citizens to take ownership of their museum heritage.

MONTRÉAL MUSEUMS MAGAZINE

• What is Montréal Museums Magazine? The magazine provides information about the 35 Montréal museums that are members of the Board of Montréal Museum Directors (BMMD): annual exhibitions, walking routes that link neighbouring museums, articles that reveal the inner workings of the museum world, and practical information such as museum addresses, opening hours and so forth. The bilingual magazine is free and is published annually in the beggining of the year. It is also given automatically to anyone who purchases a Montréal Museums Pass.
• Where can I get a copy of Montréal Museums Magazine? Montréal Museums Magazine is available free of charge in all museums that are members of the BMMD, at tourism offices, libraries and cultural centres in the Montréal region, in the province’s 15 Archambault stores, at various hotels, inns and shopping centres in Montréal, and at numerous cultural and entertainment sites in Montréal, Laval, Québec City and in the Lanaudière, Laurentians and Montérégie regions. Click here for a full list of distribution points.

MONTRÉAL MUSEUMS PASS

• What is the Montréal Museums Pass? There are three types of passes available to Montréal-area residents and visitors.
  
  1) Montréal Museums Pass (with public transit)
  Valid for 3 consecutive days starting with the first paid visit, this Pass provides access to 38 museums. When you purchase the Pass, you will also receive a Société de transport de Montréal (STM) tourism transit card that provides unlimited access to the bus and métro system, and the airport shuttle, for 3 consecutive days. A copy of Montréal Museums Magazine, the bilingual reference guide that tells you everything about the city's museums, is also provided at time of purchase. The Pass costs $65, taxes included.
  
  2) Montréal Museums Pass (without public transit)
  This Pass is valid for 3 days of your choice within a 21-day period, starting with the first paid visit, and provides access to 38 museums. A copy of Montréal Museums Magazine, the bilingual reference guide that tells you everything about the city's museums, is also provided at time of purchase. The Pass costs $60, taxes included.
  
  3) Montréal Museums Prestige Pass
  Produced as a limited-edition series, this Pass includes 2 visits per museum (simultaneous or not) and is valid for the city's 38 museums for 1 year following the date of purchase. A copy of Montréal Museums Magazine, the bilingual reference guide that tells you everything about the city's museums, is also provided at time of purchase. The Pass costs $200, taxes included. It's a unique gift idea for culture-lovers, and businesses that purchase the Pass can deduct 100% of the purchase price from their revenues (Québec income tax).
• Where can I purchase a Montréal Museums Pass? The passes, both with and without the public transit option, are sold at nearly all Montréal museums, at the Bureau d'accueil touristique in Old Montréal, at the Centre infotouriste de Montréal (Exploratours), at the La Vitrine discount ticket outlet and at numerous hotels, inns and B&Bs throughout the region. Click here to see a full list of points of sale.
  
  The Montréal Museums Prestige Pass is sold only through the BMMD. Contact Frédérique Guéguen at (514) 845-6873, extension 205.
• Can I buy the Montréal Museums Pass online? Both the Montréal Museums Pass with and without public transit can be purchased online on our website.
• Is there a reduced-price Montréal Museums Pass? There are no discount prices for families, children, seniors or students. However, most museums offer a reduced rate for these clientele.

MONTRÉAL MUSEUMS DAY

• What is Montréal Museums Day? It’s an open-house day for the museums of the Montréal region that includes free public transit. In addition to giving free access to their permanent and temporary exhibits, participating museums offer special activities for everyone: art workshops, games, historical re-enactments, shows and more.
• When is Montréal Museums Day held?

  Montréal Museums Day always takes place on the last Sunday in May. The next edition is Sunday, May 27, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

• How many museums take part in Montréal Museums Day?

  Each year, some thirty museums open their doors for free. The list is posted at the beginning of May on our website. It should be noted that the Botanical Garden and the Insectarium are not participating in this event and therefore do not open their doors for free on the last Sunday in May.

• Will there be free transit during Montréal Museums Day?

  In collaboration with the Société de transport de Montréal, a free shuttle bus service is available between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm with departures approximately every 30 to 15 minutes. Circuit loop connecting the museum are situated at the carrefour, the only place where participants can move from one circuit to another. Participants can board buses at the carrefour or any of the museums.

MUSEUMS OF MONTRÉAL

• What are the museums’ current exhibits? Permanent and temporary exhibits, both current and future, are announced on each museum’s information pages. Click here to see the Museums of Montréal section.
• What is the admission cost for the museums? The admission cost varies by museum and age. In some cases, entrance is free of charge at certain times. Please contact the appropriate museum to inquire about prices.
• Are the museums accessible to visitors with reduced mobility? Most museums provide partial access to people with reduced mobility, and some provide full access. Please refer to the Museums of Montréal section or Montréal Museums Magazine, or contact the appropriate museum directly for details.

MONTRÉAL MUSEUM ROUTES

• What is a Montréal Museum Route?

  The Board of Montréal Museum Directors (BMMD) has created seven routes that link all of our museums. The routes were designed to include other attractions along the way, such as monuments or buildings with noteworthy architecture.

• What are the routes?

  The Square Mile and Quartier des spectacles routes meander through downtown Montréal, while the Old Montréal route lets you experience the city’s original location from a fresh perspective. The Island and River route takes you to Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène and the Space for Life route heads toward the Pôle Maisonneuve area. The From the Mountain to the River route crosses the northern tip of the city, from Mount Royal to the Rivière-des-Prairies while the Lakeshore follows the Lachine Canal and the shores of Lake St. Louis to explore the many museums of the West Island.

Montréal City of glass

• What is the ''Montréal City of glass'' event ?

  On February 2, 2010, the Society of Montreal Museum Directors launched the great cultural event of 2010, Montréal City of glass, the story of an innovation, in collaboration with the Montreal Science Centre. Throughout 2010, over 100 exhibitions and activities took place in more than 40 Montreal locations. These events explored all facets of glass: arts and fine crafts, architecture and architectural integration, history and society, science and ecology, and also industry and recycling.