Its principal mandate is to focus on research, interpretation and dissemination initiatives in order to broaden the influence and appreciation of contemporary visual arts.

Artexte's partnerships and alliances are built with others who also seek to bring attention to the value of documentation produced by the study and practice of contemporary art.

In 1997, this service was transferred to a private business specializing in the distribution of this type of document, ABC Art Books Canada.

This move marked the beginning of a new era for the organization and its users, by positioning Artexte within the heart of a network frequented by artists and researchers of contemporary art.

e-Artexte is an Open-Access digital repository for publishing in contemporary Canadian art and the online catalogue for the collection.