Presentation of eco-friendly and sustainable signage with Joé Côté-Rancourt
Saturday August 15th, 2 PM
Get a behind-the-scenes look at sustainable signage practices during a presentation and discussion with Joé Côté-Rancourt, Sustainability and Engagement Coordinator at the FOFA Gallery.
Through his research on eco-friendly practices in exhibition settings, Joé will share his findings, particularly regarding the use of dye plants grown on the roof of the Guido Molinari Foundation for the lettering in the Vent bleu exhibition.
This is an opportunity to discover how plants can transform museum practices and contribute to more sustainable production methods.
Free admission; no reservation required.
Since 2023, Concordia University’s FOFA Gallery has been committed to phasing out the use of PVC vinyl lettering, a material widely used in exhibition signage despite its significant environmental impact. In 2025, an initial version of the Jardin des couleurs de Molinari was created on the Foundation’s rooftop terrace, in collaboration with the FOFA team. This year, we are continuing our partnership: plants harvested from the Jardin des couleurs will be used to produce watercolours and natural inks, which will be incorporated into the Foundation’s exhibitions as well as its cultural outreach workshops.
This presentation invites participants to reflect critically and practically on strategies for reducing material waste in exhibition design. As part of broader discussions on degrowth, the recombination of existing tools and techniques, and localized material practices, the session explores pathways toward more sustainable exhibition practices in museums, galleries, and artist-run centers.
Joé Côté-Rancourt is a multidisciplinary artist and curator whose practice centers on sustainability in the visual arts. He is the co-curator in charge of sustainability at Galerie FOFA. His technical work in Concordia University’s woodworking shop, foundry, and digital fabrication lab directly informs the development of sustainable methods for designing and producing exhibitions at the gallery. His curatorial and technical experience shapes his artistic practice, which explores the history of materials, the systems that support them, and the physical and social dimensions of construction.
This project received financial support through the Programme de partenariat territorial de Montréal.
