Astral Announces Winner of Inaugural Prochaine Station Art Competition

MONTRÉAL (Feb. 27, 2025) – Astral, a division of Bell Media and Canada’s leading out-of-home advertising solutions provider, today announced that the winner of the inaugural Prochaine Station art competition is Sarah Cloutier, a Montréal-based painter, originally from Sherbrooke. Sarah Cloutier is currently completing a master’s degree in visual and media arts at UQAM and graduated from Concordia University with a major in Fine Arts and a minor in Sociology. Her artistic research explores the role of the materiality of painting in the digital age and the attention economy. The competition, in partnership with Transgesco, the limited partnership that enhances the value of assets for the Société de Transport de Montréal (STM), was designed to foster artistic expression and enhance the passenger experience within the Montréal metro system. Students from universities in Montréal were invited to submit original artwork that fits this year’s theme: “The Underground Travel.” Submissions brought to life the artist’s interpretation of Montréal’s underground in unique and powerful ways. The winning artist earned a $1,000 cash prize and the opportunity for their artwork to be featured in Berri-UQAM station, and throughout the STM network from February 10 to March 9, 2025. “The inaugural Prochaine Station art competition provides a unique platform for emerging artists to showcase their talent and contribute to the vibrant cultural landscape of Montréal,” said Michele Erskine, VP, Out-of-Home at Bell Media. “By working closely with Transgesco, we were able to integrate their core values into our initiatives to enrich the urban experience with a more engaging and inspiring environment, while giving back to the community with new opportunities for students.” “We are committed to making the STM a more enjoyable and enriching experience for all,” said Manuel Lopez, Director, Commercial Operations and Projects at Transgesco. “The Prochaine Station competition aligns perfectly with our vision of integrating art into every station within our network. We are proud to support this inaugural initiative with Astral and provide a valuable opportunity for students to showcase their creativity and contribute to the artistic fabric of our city.” The Prochaine Station art competition received a significant number of submissions from talented students across Montréal. The winning artwork was selected by a panel of esteemed judges based on originality, creativity, and its interpretation of Montréal’s underground. This initiative further cements Astral’s commitment to creating impactful, immersive out-of-home and digital out-of-home advertising experiences with Transgesco. Astral offers a diverse range of media – static and digital assets, wraps, and targeted activations – tailored to advertisers’ needs within the unique STM environment.