Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously adopted an orientation asking the agglomeration council to approve an exhibition agreement with Studio Supply and Demand Inc. and authorize the related spending. The exhibition, L’odyssée sensorielle, is scheduled for the Biosphère from December 5, 2026, to October 11, 2027. City staff say the goal is to use an immersive exhibition about ecosystems to raise awareness of biodiversity; this is an intended benefit, not a guaranteed result. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting.
- The proposed agreement would let Studio Supply and Demand Inc. present the exhibition at the Biosphère and provide its technical support.
- The city’s orientation includes $431,156.25 for the agreement and a contingency budget (money set aside for unforeseen costs). The stated total is $474,271.88, though the resolution’s two amounts add up to one cent more.
- The agreement was awarded directly to the studio, without a call for tenders. City staff say it holds the exclusive North American rights and is the only authorized provider for the exhibition’s licensing and setup in Québec.
What it means for you#
- Visitors: If the agglomeration council approves the agreement, the Biosphère would host the exhibition during the stated dates. The city’s materials describe projections, sound, scents and other sensory effects.
- Taxpayers: The exhibition would be funded entirely by the agglomeration, according to city staff, because the Biosphère is at Parc Jean-Drapeau. The decision does not change taxes or establish a new public service.
- Studio Supply and Demand Inc.: It would receive payment under the agreement. City staff describe six planned payments tied to project deliverables and invoices.
Money#
The proposed spending is about $474,272, taxes included, with a one-cent discrepancy in the materials.
- The resolution lists $431,156.25 for the agreement and $43,115.64 for contingencies. Together, these equal $474,271.89.
- The decision summary lists the contingency as $43,115.63, which brings the total to the $474,271.88 stated in the title.
- City staff say the agreement amount would be paid in six instalments, from June 2026 through October 2027. They say the contingency amount is planned for 2026.
- City staff say the spending is already provided for in the Biosphère’s budget and would not affect the city’s financial framework. They also say it would be paid fully by the agglomeration.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not explain the one-cent difference between the contingency amounts and the stated total.
- No publicly available information is provided about expected attendance, ticket revenue, or the exhibition’s net financial return.
- The city council’s orientation is not the agglomeration council’s final decision.
Case for#
- The exhibition fits the Biosphère’s environmental education role, according to city staff.
- A direct award could make sense if, as staff say, the studio holds exclusive rights and is the only authorized provider for licensing and adapting the exhibition.
- The agreement includes technical support during the exhibition period, which could help maintain the installation.
Case against#
- The direct award means there was no competition between bidders; the materials do not provide a comparison with other options.
- The proposed spending is public, while the materials give no attendance or revenue estimates to show what financial return might result.
- The one-cent discrepancy leaves the exact authorized total unclear.