Sitting on the terrace of the 1875 Commissioners’ Building, after climbing the stone stairs into its clock tower, we had an early glimpse of the MASD Montreal — Musée des archives de Salvador Dalí project. Our friend Félix Bélanger had welcomed us for a tour before the public unveiling, followed by lunch and a brainstorm about experiences and events we might create together. Behind that conversation was his larger ambition: a Montréal home for the imagination of Salvador Dalí.
Now that vision has a name, an address and a new public chapter. The MASD Montreal — Musée des archives de Salvador Dalí is scheduled to open in 2027 at 357 de la Commune West. After the October 27 unveiling, here are five things to know about the museum, its founder and the extraordinary building becoming its home.
1. Meet Félix Bélanger, founder of MASD Montreal
Félix Bélanger is MASD’s President and Founder, a Montréal cultural entrepreneur and creative producer whose background spans theatre, film and art direction. He also created Divina Dalí, an exhibition that helped bring his exploration of the artist to audiences.
His interest is in the thinking that gives an artwork life: the questions, experiments and connections that happen before an image becomes familiar. The MASD Montreal — Musée des archives de Salvador Dalí brings that curiosity into a permanent institution, with the ambition to share both Dalí’s work and the creative spirit behind it.
Founder Félix Bélanger hosting the press conference.
2. The vision behind the Musée des archives de Salvador Dalí
Looking for the Dali museum Montreal is preparing to welcome? MASD Montreal is the Musée des archives de Salvador Dalí, a project dedicated to exploring the artist’s creative world through his archives. Its planned 2027 opening adds a new cultural destination to Old Montréal.
Bélanger’s research into Dalí began in 2017. Drawings, letters, books and working papers drew him toward an artist whose curiosity crossed disciplines. The archives became a way to explore how Dalí thought, worked and challenged the boundaries between different forms of creation. “Theatre, sculpture, projections… the possibilities for immersing guests in Dalí’s world are endless. Several exhibition concepts are already ready to come to life.” — Félix Bélanger
image source: Upscaled Dali Atomicus CC Creative Commons 2026
That is the promise of the museum’s name. Archives offer more than a record of finished achievements: they can reveal the steps, discoveries and unexpected turns behind them. MASD’s stated mission includes preserving, documenting, researching and passing on that legacy, while creating encounters between audiences, researchers and contemporary creators.
3. Dali museum Montreal: a remarkable heritage home
The Commissioners’ Building dates to 1875, when this waterfront address served Montréal’s harbour commissioners. Its next chapter also carries the legacy of digital cinema pioneer and arts patron Daniel Langlois, who acquired the building in 1996 and oversaw its restoration.
By 2001, the restored address had become a meeting place for the arts, business and technology. Walking through it today, the relationship between historic stonework and contemporary architecture is part of the attraction. The building gives the museum a setting with a story of its own, right in the heart of Old Montréal.
4. Lorraine Pintal is helping bring the vision to life
Executive Director Lorraine Pintal brings more than thirty years of leadership at the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde to MASD.
Alongside Bélanger and the museum team, she is helping develop an institution grounded in preservation, research and cultural exchange.
The MASD Montreal — Musée des archives de Salvador Dalí vision places the artist in conversation with art, science and technology. For visitors, that offers the prospect of discovering the ideas and processes behind the work, as well as the work itself. Specific exhibitions, the exact opening date, ticket prices and public visiting hours remain to be announced. Follow the official MASD website for confirmed updates.
5. Event spaces and private gatherings at MASD Montreal
This is an address with possibilities beyond an exhibition visit. MASD presents six spaces for private and corporate events: the Atrium, Plenary Room, Commune Room, Locks Room, Dome and Terrace. Each brings a different atmosphere, from wood-panelled heritage rooms to rooftop views.
The museum’s venue rental information covers room options and site visits. For availability, rates and a tour, contact location@masd.ca. More experiences and event announcements? Yes — stay tuned!
MASD Montreal FAQ — Musée des archives de Salvador Dalí
Who founded the MASD Montreal — Musée des archives de Salvador Dalí?
Félix Bélanger is the President and Founder of the Musée des archives de Salvador Dalí. Lorraine Pintal serves as Executive Director.
How did Félix get the idea?
His research began in 2017. Dalí’s drawings, correspondence, books and working papers inspired a museum that would explore the creative mind behind the artworks.
Where is the MASD Montreal — Musée des archives de Salvador Dalí and when will it open?
MASD is at 357 de la Commune West in Old Montréal, in the Commissioners’ Building. The public opening is scheduled for 2027; a precise date has not yet been announced.
Will there be other events at the venue?
Yes! The building offers spaces for events and gatherings. Stay tuned for announcements about specific experiences and programming.
What can visitors expect at MASD?
A closer look at Salvador Dalí’s creative world through drawings, letters and archival material, all within a remarkable Old Montréal heritage building. With art, science and technology shaping its vision, MASD promises plenty to discover when it opens in 2027.
What makes MASD different from a traditional art museum?
MASD’s distinctive focus is on the archives behind Salvador Dalí’s creative process: drawings, letters, books and working papers that reveal how his ideas developed. Its stated mission combines preservation, documentation and research with encounters between art, science and technology. Rather than describing a fixed exhibition format before it is announced, think of MASD as an invitation to explore the thinking behind the artworks.
What is the building’s history, from 1875 to today?
The building’s story connects Montréal’s waterfront heritage with art and technology:
- 1875: The Commissioners’ Building dates to this year and served Montréal’s harbour commissioners.
- 1996: Digital cinema pioneer and arts patron Daniel Langlois acquired the building and oversaw its restoration.
- 2001: The restored address had become a meeting place for the arts, business and technology.
- 2026: MASD unveiled its museum project, giving this heritage address a new cultural chapter.
- 2027: The planned public opening of the Musée des archives de Salvador Dalí will bring the artist’s archives and creative world into this historic setting. The exact opening date remains to be announced.
What are the opening hours and ticket prices for the Dalí museum in Montréal?
Regular public visiting hours, ticket prices and the exact opening date have not yet been announced in the information available for this article. MASD Montreal is planning its public opening for 2027. Consult the official MASD website for confirmed visitor information. A private event or an arranged site visit is separate from general museum admission.
Can you rent a room at MASD Montreal for a private or corporate event?
Yes. MASD presents six event spaces: the Atrium, Plenary Room, Commune Room, Locks Room, Dome and Terrace. Availability, capacities, rates and services depend on the space and event. Explore the official venue rental information and contact location@masd.ca to discuss your plans.
How can you arrange a tour of the building?
Contact location@masd.ca to ask about arranging a site visit and viewing the rental spaces. You can also contact BestKeptMTL for an introduction: our office is five minutes away, and we know Félix personally. Tours must be coordinated with the MASD team; availability and access should be confirmed in advance.
Image source: Lysa Mac. Cheers to our good friend Félix for a great press launch!
Discover more of the city’s creative life in our Art & Entertainment coverage.
