Witches – Out of the Shadows

Discipline : Interior Design

Categories : Culture, Sport & Leisure / Museum & Gallery : Grand Winner

Categories : Special Awards / Interior Design + Colour : Gold certification

Delving into the little-known history of witches

The exhibition Witches – Out of the Shadows immerses visitors in the little-known history of witches—women who have transitioned from marginalized figures to symbols of modern feminism over the centuries. Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex, presented this fascinating subject in an original exhibition, developed by a team of international experts, in Montréal from October 25, 2024, to April 6, 2025.

To provide historical context for this intriguing topic, the Museum created an evocative journey through an enchanting and mysterious setting. The exhibition brought together an impressive collection of over 400 items in private and institutional collections from over 30 museums in Europe and North America.

With its bold design that engages visitors’ senses and imaginations, the exhibition offers a unique experience that illustrates the evolution and lasting influence of witches in culture—reflecting the history of women in society.

For nearly 30 years, Pointe-à-Callière has been recognized as a leader in the production of major international exhibitions on great civilizations and social phenomena, and this exhibition adds to that portfolio. Witches was a huge hit, attracting 175,000 visitors – an impressive attendance for the time of year – and the exhibition also attracted visitors outside its target market of age 12 and up by welcoming families and school groups.

Divided into five thematic zones, the tour route presents a wide variety of genuine ethnographic and archaeological objects, manuscripts, works of art, costumes, along with numerous multimedia presentations, to tell the story of witches from 800 BCE to today.

The profound changes in how witches have been perceived over the years is mirrored in the exhibition design and the atmosphere created. Transitioning from darkness to light over the centuries, witches are presented in a setting that itself transforms from dark to luminous through the skillful use of an ever-changing color palette, contrasting lighting, engaging multimedia experiences, original showcase elements, enlightening audiovisual creations, and fun interactive modules.

In keeping with the historical accuracy of a museum environment, the exhibition design went beyond the clichés associated with witches by developing a contemporary aesthetic.

In rehabilitating the cultural memory of witches, the exhibition invites visitors to engage in a profound reflection on justice, emancipation, and the resilience of women through the ages in a setting that fosters introspection.

The project in images