Esse arts + opinions, published three times a year by Les éditions Esse, is a contemporary art magazine that focuses on disciplinary and interdisciplinary practices (visual arts, performance, video, current music and dance, experimental theatre) and all forms of socially inclined, site-specific or performative intervention. Founded in 1984 in Montreal, Quebec, the magazine is incorporated in a non profit organisation in 1987. It favours analyses that address artworks within their (geographical, social, political or economical) contexts.
Esse arts + opinion positions itself as a topical magazine in the field of multidisciplinary art, as well as a communication, information and research tool. In addition to its magazine, Les éditions Esse organizes art symposiums and publishes their proceedings in bilingual books that are internationally distributed. Esse arts + opinions is a member of the Société de développement des périodiques culturels québécois; the magazine is available in print and digital formats.
Esse was founded in 1984 at UQAM (Université du Québec àMontréal), becoming a not-for-profit organization in 1987. Esse is distributed in Canada and the United States by Disticor Magazine Distribution Services, in France by Dif' Pop' & Pollen Diffusion , and in Europe and Asia by Export Press.
Esse arts + opinions focuses on disciplinary and multidisciplinary practices (visual arts, performance, video, current music and dance, experimental theatre, etc.) and all forms of socially inclined, site-specific or performative intervention in contemporary art. In its beginnings, Esse documented artistic practices from the different regions of Quebec and focused on the production and conditions of the arts. Today, the magazine turns to art practices in Quebec, in Canada and internationally, it favours analyses that address artworks within their (geographical, social, political or economical) contexts, as well as relational and socially engaged works.
In 2007, the magazine became bilingual and is read and distributed internationally today.
Each issue of Esse showcases different contemporary artists and their practice, based on a chosen them for that issue, along a selection of articles on the same them.
The magazine relies on the visuals of the cover page to communicate each theme.
Since 2009, Les éditions Esse host annually the Vendu-Sold benefit auction with a mission of supporting the magazine's activities as well as the promotion of contemporary art. In addition to offering the chance for collectors to acquiere art works by renowned Canadian artists, Vendu-Sold distributes a portion of the profits to the participating artists.
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In 2005, Esse tied for first place for the Grafika Grand Prix with issue no. 52. In 2006 issue no. 57 received awards from Applied Arts Magazine and Coupe Magazine for its graphic design. Issue no. 58 received another Grafika award in 2007. In 2009, Esse's 25th anniversary issue (Trouble-fête/Killjoy) rethinking the meaning of celebration wins a Grafika award in the "Magazines" category. In 2010, Esse is among the finalists of the Conseil des Arts de Montréal's 2009 Grand Prix and in 2011, Esse wins the Grafika award once more, for the previous year's three issues, Sabotage, Bling Bling, and Miniature.
Esse is indexed in Academic OneFile, ARTbibliographies Modern, Arts & Humanities Full Text, Canadian Business & Current Affairs, Canadian Periodical Index Quarterly, Fine Arts and Music Collection, General OneFile, Repère, and available on ÃÂrudit Platform and Flipster â Digital Magazines by Ebsco Publishing.
Esse is a member of the Société de développement des périodiques culturels québécois (SODEP) and of Magazines Canada.