Mapping Motion’s “Stay Toon!” to Reimagine Visitor Experience at Palais des congrès de Montréal with AI

Montréal, February 16, 2026 – The Palais des congrès de Montréal has selected Mapping Motion as the winner of its artificial intelligence (AI) call for concepts. The Montréal-based company will unveil its innovative project, “Stay Toon!,” an interactive artistic installation leveraging generative AI, on February 18 and 19, 2026, as part of the E-AI 2026 event.

A Call for AI-Driven Innovation

Launched in summer 2025, the Palais des congrès de Montréal’s call for concepts aimed to explore how AI could transform event spaces and enhance the visitor experience. The initiative, a collaboration with TKNL—its audiovisual partner—and Divertir IA, sought interactive, accessible, and site-specific proposals capable of redefining the relationship between people and their environment. Palais des congrès de Montréal

“Stay Toon!”: Blending Art and Artificial Intelligence

“Stay Toon!” is an interactive artwork that pays homage to the world of vintage cartoons while reimagining its aesthetic through generative AI. Created by digital artist Jeremy Fassio and digital technology specialist Damien Mortini, under Mapping Studio, the project invites participants to have their photo taken and transformed into a cartoonish portrait based on Fassio’s artistic style. Le Lézard

The installation utilizes a two-stage AI process: the first AI transforms the portrait into a cartoon image, and a second AI then animates these images. These animations are integrated into a constantly evolving mosaic, creating a dynamic “living gallery” shaped by the public’s participation. The project emphasizes a human-centered approach, requiring on-site participation for image capture and integration, contrasting with potentially misleading hyperrealistic AI applications.

Funding and Support

As the winning concept, Mapping Motion received $25,000 in funding from the Palais des congrès de Montréal, along with professional and technical support from TKNL, to facilitate the development of “Stay Toon!” Palais des congrès de Montréal

E-AI 2026 and Beyond

“Stay Toon!” will make its debut during E-AI 2026, an international summit dedicated to the intersection of artificial intelligence and the creative industries, taking place February 18-19, 2026, at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. E-AI 2026 The installation is designed to be user-friendly, accessible in both English and French, and adaptable to various spaces and events within the Palais.

The public will also have an opportunity to experience “Stay Toon!” during Nuit blanche à Montréal 2026, on Saturday, February 28, from 5 p.m. To 1 a.m., as part of the Palais’ free public programming.

Statements from Key Stakeholders

“Artificial intelligence opens up new possibilities for rethinking our spaces and how the public experiences them. With this call for concepts, we wanted to move from reflection to concrete experimentation, on site. Stay Toon! embodies this goal perfectly: an accessible, participatory work that transforms the event experience and invites the public to enjoy the Palais in a whole new way,” said Emmanuelle Legault, President and CEO of the Palais des congrès de Montréal. Palais des congrès de Montréal

Jeremy Fassio, digital artist and motion designer and co-creator of “Stay Toon!,” added, “The work naturally fits in at the Palais des congrès, a place criss-crossed every day by many local and international visitors. Cartoons, through their evocative power and collective imagination, constitute a universal language that, like Montréal and the Palais, transcends borders. The proposed experience follows the same logic: it’s self-explanatory. Behind the cutting-edge technology, the interaction is simple and intuitive, for an immediate result that everyone can understand and enjoy.” Palais des congrès de Montréal