MONTREAL (CBC) - The National Gallery of Canada will no longer be putting on big art exhibitions for a gallery in Shawinigan, Que., the hometown of former prime minister Jean Chr?tien.

The arrangement with the smelter-turned-gallery Shawinigan Space began when Chr?tien was in power.

Last year, the federal government asked many federal departments and Crown corporations to review their spending, and find ways to save money.

A spokeswoman for the National Gallery, Joanne Charette, said it has decided to cut the budget for the Shawinigan exhibits next year.

"We had been mounting exhibitions only for Shawinigan Space in the last five years, as we will for this summer.

"I think, from an efficiency standpoint, it's always better to mount an exhibit, do the research, find the works, and travel it to more than one venue. I think that's the goal of the National Gallery," Charette said.

Charette said the industrial theme park that runs the Shawinigan Space, La Cit? de l'?nergie complex, will still be able to bring in the National Gallery's travelling exhibitions, just like other galleries in the country.

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