The Centre de recherche urbaine de Montreal (CRUM) is a symbiotic (parasitic) research group with no exhibition space of its own. It uses the pre-existing exhibition network to present diverse projects. The CRUM is an artists collective dedicated to exploring links between art and urban space.

CRUM is: Chris Carrière - Matt Killen - Alexandra McIntosh - Douglas Scholes - Felicity Tayler

CRUMANDATE

The Centre de recherche urbaine de Montréal is a pseudo-arts organization, an independent publisher, an idea, an article of faith, but above all an artists’ collective dedicated to making art projects happen in the urban environment. The CRUMmies have come together because of shared interests and a belief in working collaboratively within the competitive and impersonal environment of the city. We all work within the identity of CRUM but we all also work without it, in our own personal practices and professional activities.

The CRUM is a shape-shifting, symbiotic (parasitic), self-sufficient and auto-financing model. When we work collaboratively with artists outside the organization it is because these artists and their projects share our values. We offer them the conviction that working together and pooling resources is a positive experience. We offer them exchange in kind of our combined professional experience in research and information services, writing, sound recording, and institutional, commercial and not-for-profit art systems.

In 2007 the CRUM adopted the Creative Commons licensing system for intellectual property produced through the collective. This is in keeping with our belief in shared resources and a free culture.

photo: Joanna HR Foster