L'espace quatre cents : An emblematic cultural venue in Québec City
Located in the heart of the Old Port, just steps away from Old Québec, Espace Quatre Cents is a landmark for art, culture, and events.
Formerly known as Espace 400e, this bright, modern building— a legacy of Québec City’s 400th anniversary celebrations — now hosts exhibitions, conferences, corporate gatherings, and public activities.
Managed by the ExpoCité team, Espace Quatre Cents offers full professional support for planning, design, and logistics. With modular rooms that can accommodate from 10 to 600 people, the venue stands as a prime cultural showcase for artists, professionals, and citizens alike.
History and origins of Espace Quatre Cents
Born from the celebrations of Québec City’s 400th anniversary, this contemporary building was designed as a space for dissemination, exchange, and artistic creation.
The site has a rich history — once home to a Lafarge cement plant, it was later transformed into the Port of Québec Interpretation Centre during the Québec 1534–1984 event.
After more than two decades of activity, major renovations began in 2006, giving rise to a modern pavilion inaugurated on June 2, 2008, as a cultural legacy of the city’s 400th anniversary.
Designed by architect Dan Hanganu, Espace Quatre Cents now welcomes art exhibitions, public and corporate events, affirming its role as a meeting place between heritage and contemporary art in Québec City.
A cornerstone of Québec’s cultural life
With its luminous architecture, exceptional location, and flexible spaces, Espace Quatre Cents occupies a central role in the city’s cultural ecosystem.
It brings together creators, curators, audiences, and partners — fostering dialogue between visual arts, ideas, and community life.
A true bridge between the port’s memory and the vitality of contemporary art, it embodies Québec’s creative spirit.
A living partnership between Espace Quatre Cents and Manif d’art
For several years, Espace Quatre Cents has maintained a strong partnership with Manif d’art, producer of the Québec City Biennial and the Jardin d’hiver.
Together, they actively promote contemporary art and highlight both the Québec and international art scenes.
This collaboration results in major exhibitions, immersive installations, and accessible cultural experiences.
By combining Manif d’art’s artistic vision with the hosting capabilities of Espace Quatre Cents, both organizations turn the venue into a living laboratory for creation and dissemination at the heart of the Old Port.
Québec City Biennial – A flagship exhibition venue
Over the years, Espace Quatre Cents has become one of the central sites of the Québec City Biennial, organized by Manif d’art.
Formerly Espace 400e, it hosted the main exhibitions of Biennales 6, 7 and 11, and is preparing to welcome the 12th edition in 2026, curated by Didier Morelli, under the theme Breaking the Ice / Splitting Ice.
- Manif d’art 6 (2012) : Machines – Les formes du mouvement, commissaire : Nicole Giguère.
- Manif d’art 7 (2014) : Resistance – And the Politics of Art, commissaire : Alex Sutter.
- Manif d’art 11 (2024) : Forces du sommeil – Cohabitations des vivants, commissaire : Marie Muracciole, a réuni plus de 50 artistes du Québec et de l’international.
- Manif d’art 12 (2026) : Espace Quatre Cents will once again host the Biennial’s main exhibition, symbolizing the renewal of contemporary art in Québec.
With its vast volumes and abundant natural light, Espace Quatre Cents offers an exceptional architectural setting for monumental and immersive artworks.
Each Biennial transforms it into a living space of reflection and creation, attracting thousands of visitors.
Le Jardin d’hiver : Art at the heart of winter
Since 2023, the Jardin d’hiver (Winter Garden)—produced by Manif d’art—has taken over Espace Quatre Cents and its surroundings, offering a unique winter art experience.
This project showcases Québec and Canadian artists through installations, sculptures, and exhibitions that connect art, nature, and light.
- Jardin d’hiver 3 (2023) : De la lumière à la matière, visitors discovered immersive outdoor artworks and interactive installations in the Old Port.
- Jardin d’hiver 4 (2025) : From February 28 to April 20, 2025, the main exhibition, presented at Espace Quatre Cents, features 10 artists (including Jiwan Larouche, Skawennati, Magali Hébert-Huot) and over 45 artworks across the city.
With its theme L’écho des contes, the project offers three artistic routes — The Dreamers, The Citizens and The Curious — linking Saint-Roch, Saint-Jean-Baptiste, and Old Québec, with Espace Quatre Cents as the vibrant core of this artistic constellation.
This biennial rendez-vous confirms the venue’s role as an anchor point for public art and winter creation, making art accessible to all — even under the snow.
Visit Espace Quatre Cents – Access and practical information
- 📍 Address: 100 Quai Saint-André, Québec City (QC) G1K 3Y2
- 🚶 Access: A few steps from Old Québec, facing the Bassin Louise
- 🕐 Hours: Variable – according to programming
- 🌐 More info : manifdart.org | expocite.com
Fully accessible to visitors with reduced mobility, Espace Quatre Cents welcomes the public year-round for exhibitions, conferences, and cultural events.
