The Montreal’s Salon des métiers d'art (SMAQ) returns to the Palais des congrès de Montréal for a festive and inspiring 69th edition. Nearly 200 artisans from all regions of Quebec will present their creations in a completely redesigned space, featuring themed zones, new exhibitions, and food kiosks. This edition marks a new beginning, driven by the vision of Mariouche Gagné, recently appointed Executive Director of the Conseil des métiers d’art du Québec (CMAQ).
Craftswoman, entrepreneur, and pioneer of sustainable fashion, Mariouche Gagné is the first woman and the first designer from the crafts sector to lead the CMAQ. Known particularly for her brand Harricana, she brings to the organization a perspective rooted in creation, sustainability, and the appreciation of handmade craftsmanship. She elaborated:
“As a craftswoman, I know how much a trade show can change a career path: encounters, commissions, collaborations. Today, the SMAQ remains true to this essential mission—building bridges between creators and the public—while looking toward the future. We want to make the Show a vibrant place, anchored in its time, where sustainable innovation, knowledge transfer, and the next generation coexist with inherited skills. With the SMAQ, we offer a pop-up gift shop that emphasizes carefully selected pieces and the people behind each object.”
“When you shop at the Craft Fair, you’re not just buying a product or an object… you’re treating yourself to a piece, often unique, that was conceived and made by a local artisan. Even better, you’re supporting our local economy! That’s why I’m so proud to be the spokesperson for the most beautiful ‘Christmas shop.’ My advice for fully enjoying the Fair: buy a passport and come several times! Stroll around, take advantage of the program, chat with the artisans, in short, take the time to shop… That’s true luxury!”
The 2025 Salon des métiers d'art invites the public to discover fine crafts in a new light, through a dynamic experience organized around three main thematic zones and four major exhibitions that celebrate local creativity and expertise.
The Lifestyle area brings together ceramics, tableware, cutlery, woodworking, and design objects: pieces chosen for the kitchen, home, and holiday table, where the elegance of the craft and the ingenuity of the materials unite in creations that are both functional and inspiring.
The Fashion and Accessories area showcases jewelry, leather, textiles and clothing, with designers working with fine materials that combine elegance, innovation and sustainability.
The Family area offers a friendly environment designed for discovery: mini-demonstrations and fun content.
A stage that showcases expertise
In addition, SMAQ offers a series of lunchtime meetings, providing opportunities for discussion about creation, materials, entrepreneurship, and the transmission of knowledge. These discussions will highlight those who are shaping the crafts of today and tomorrow.
The Stage-Scène, in collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), also hosts a program of continuously screened films that explore materials, gestures, and transmission. This short, sensitive, and educational selection serves as a visual "common thread" throughout the daytime programming.
The Architecture & Heritage Space will be a vibrant and fascinating place where building artisans will demonstrate their skills daily: blacksmiths, stonemasons, stained-glass artists, carpenters, cabinetmakers, and decorative arts specialists. Among the anticipated guests are Sylvie Savoie (stained glass, winner of the 2025 Maestria–Alain-Lachance award), François Racine (blacksmithing), Ann-Marlène Gagnon (gilding), André Perreault (decorative arts), as well as emerging talents, including Olan Finney (ornamental plasterer). The public will be able to observe the techniques, ask questions, and delve into the art of craftsmanship.
Northern Canadian Fine Crafts in the Spotlight
New for 2025. The CMAQ is proud to present, at the heart of the Salon, a space dedicated to Indigenous and Inuit artists from Canada’s three northern territories. At booths T8 to T12, five artists from each territory will take turns exhibiting and selling works inspired by their cultures and a deep connection to the northern landscape. This presence is made possible in partnership with the NWT Arts Program (Government of the Northwest Territories), the Northern Cultural Expressions Society (with the support of the Government of Yukon), and the Nunavut Development Corporation (with the support of the Government of Nunavut).
There are also many booth with the Quebec food specialties that visitors can taste and buy.
