Created in December 1978 by the Maison des arts Desjardins Drummondville (MADD, at the time called Centre culturel de Drummondville), DRAC has had three different spatial configurations and six distinct names over the years. Located in the basement of MADD for the first 30 years, it was only once the building was renovated in 2011 that the art centre become more accessible by being on the ground floor and having a street level entrance.
Mr. André Dupont was the first director from 1978 to 1994. During his mandate, he set up the educational program and organized two international symposia of sculpture. The art centre presented exhibitions of leading Quebec artists, including Rita Letendre, Marcelle Ferron, and Marcel Barbeau.
From 1994 to 2018, Mr. Normand Blanchette took over as the director. His art focus and exhibition choices were marked by a determination to build more connections with the public. The content of the programming also underwent an important shift as figurative work became increasingly present. Mr. Blanchette collaborated on several projects including creative workshops in partnership with the organization Les Impatients, the graduate exhibition of visual art students from Cégep de Drummondville, the Visual Arts Program at Jeanne-Mance High School, and various summer camps at MADD and its resident organizations.
In 2018, the art centre launched a crucial strategic thinking process in order to better direct its mission. It subsequently made a significant shift by deciding to present only contemporary art. To mark this new mandate, Ms. Maude P. Hénaire, the centre’s new director at the time, developed the exhibition project eXcentrer, which was presented in collaboration with four artist-run centres in Montreal: Arprim, CIRCA Art Actuel, Galerie B-312, and SKOL. The centre received the 2020 Diffusion Award for one of the exhibitions of this project at the Culture Centre-du-Québec’s GalArt event.
In 2021, in order to reflect its new mandate through its name and visual identity, the centre became DRAC and received a new visual identity in addition to a website, the first since its founding.
For more than 40 years, the centre has presented 660 exhibitions and welcomed more than 585 000 visitors. Its educational program has presented nearly 2 000 activities that have touched more than 45 000 people.
1978
The Centre d’exposition Drummond was created in the basement of the Centre culturel de Drummondville.
1988
The centre changed its name and became the Galerie d’art du Centre culturel.
1989
The educational program, which is still active today, was established.
1990
The centre organized the international symposium Jardin de sculptures [Sculpture Garden] for the 175th anniversary of the City of Drummondville. For the second edition in 1993, seven new works were installed in the city’s parks.
1993
For its 15th anniversary, the centre presented the exhibition series 15 ans / 15 artistes [15 Years / 15 Artists], consisting of solo exhibitions presented consecutively during the summer. The series included leading contemporary artists such as Francine Simonin, Marcel Barbeau, Rita Letendre, Marcelle Ferron, Normand Rajotte, and Paul Béliveau. This format was reprised a few times over the years to mark the centre’s anniversaries.
1994
Mr. André Dupont, the director of the centre since its founding, retired. Mr. Normand Blanchette was his successor. The content of the centre’s programming underwent an important shift as figurative work became increasingly present.
1995
The centre became Galerie d’Art L’Union-Vie.
2007
This year marked the beginning of a collaboration with the Department of Visual Arts of Cégep de Drummondville, which started presenting an annual graduate exhibition at the art centre.
2008
The centre changed its name to Galerie d’art Desjardins du Centre culturel de Drummondville.
2010
While the building underwent extensive renovation, the centre was relocated first to the former Saint-Jean-Baptiste church and then to the Légaré building downtown.
2011
Once the renovation was completed, the centre moved to the ground floor of MADD and became Galerie d’art Desjardins.
The centre also began collaborating with the organization Les Impatients to develop creative workshops.
2018
Mr. Normand Blanchette retired. Ms. Maude P. Hénaire became the new director.
2019
After one year of strategic thinking, the centre decided to change its mission and present only contemporary art. The project eXcentrer—developed in collaboration with the artist-run centres Arprim, CIRCA Art Actuel, Galerie B-312, and SKOL in Montreal—inaugurated this new mission.
2020
The centre set up a program of Instagram micro-residencies during the pandemic.
2021
The centre received the 2020 Diffusion Award at the Culture Centre-du-Québec’s GalArt event for Espaces Identitaires, the last exhibition of eXcentrer.
Ms. Maude P. Hénaire left the centre, and Ms. Catherine Lafranchise became the new director.
The centre received museum accreditation from the Ministry of Culture and Communications.
2022
After 43 years of operation, the centre became DRAC and received a new modern and streamlined visual identity. The centre’s first website was also launched this year.
DRAC receives the 2022 Desjardins Youth Initiative Award at the Culture Centre-du-Québec's GalArt event for the reform of the mediation program.
2023
DRAC receives the 2023 Diffusion Award at the Culture Centre-du-Québec's GalArt event for the exhibition I hear your warm whisper through the cold mist curated by Camille Larivée.