MASSIVart voted the public's favourite and receives $5 000 plus a trip to Paris!

MONTREAL, April 6 /CNW/ - Scotiabank unveiled MASSIVart as being the top artist who grabbed the public's attention and presented the collective of promoters with the Scotiabank People's Choice award during Art Souterrain's closing event held last night. The grand winner received a cash prize of $5 000 from Scotiabank and a four day cultural excursion to Paris, offered by the Consulat général de France à Québec.

MASSIVart hosted an interactive art installation allowing Art Souterrain visitors to discover serigraphy, a form of silk screening. Guests were invited to integrate their artistic creations to one large collective mural.

"Scotiabank is thrilled to see the level of public engagement through the art and creativity on display during Art Souterrain," said Diane Giard, Scotiabank Senior Vice-President Quebec and Eastern Ontario Region. "The Scotiabank People's Choice Award helps reflect upon how contemporary art is becoming more accessible to the public and is becoming more appreciated by the community at large and this is an integral part of our commitment to supporting the arts."

Art Souterrain was a finalist for the 26^th Grand Prix du Conseil des arts and has been nominated in the Visual Arts category. This year, 185,000 visitors attended Art Souterrain and out of 100 artists, MASSIVart collected the most nominations, followed by artists Damian Siqueiros for Female in a leading role and Sergio Clavijo for Undergarden. Both finalists will automatically be admitted to the 2012 edition of Art Souterrain with a budget of $1100.

As part of the closing event, iPads were drawn for two lucky members of the public who participated in the contest.

About Art Souterrain
Art Souterrain is a Non-Profit Organization whose mandate is to promote and circulate contemporary art, and offer cultural diversity to Montreal's underground city. Ultimately, Art Souterrain wishes to integrate this environment on a regular basis by revealing an annual schedule of exhibitions. Moreover, the goal is to unite the entire visual arts community by identifying and bringing together its key players around specific activities. For more information please visit us at www.artsouterrain.com.

About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad.  Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for its charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has provided on average approximately $44 million annually to community causes around the world over the last five years. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com.