An anniversary video projection about 20 personalities and an exhibition, both from September 13 to November 12

Montreal, July 5, 2023 – On the occasion of the 20^th anniversary of the Quartier des Spectacles, the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership will pay tribute to artists, artisans and professionals whose careers are closely linked to the Quartier. A video projection will showcase 20 portraits of 25 remarkable personalities with a special mention for Yvon Deschamps' lifetime achievement. These were selected by a jury following a call for entries from Quartier des Spectacles Partnership. This work, created by multidisciplinary artist Élizabeth Laferrière, will be projected every evening after sunset on UQAM’s Pavillon Président-Kennedy from September 13 to November 12.

Then, each year, an architectural video projection – a signature art form of the Quartier des Spectacles – will salute a person important to the Quartier, to be selected through an annual call for nominations issued to partners in the district. The initiative is the result of a process undertaken by the Partnership’s board of directors together with an advisory committee focused on recognition. The video projection will complement a major anniversary exhibition, Vibrer ensemble, 20 ans d’expériences mémorables, created by Urbania, based on recollections of important moments shared by partners and members of the public. The exhibition will be presented on the Promenade des Artistes on the same dates as the projection.

“The Quartier des spectacles is already celebrating its 20^th anniversary! Over the years, this unique venue has showcased the talent and creativity of Montreal's artists, and provided a unique home for an impressive number of festivals. Our cultural metropolis would not be the same without the Quartier des spectacles and the work of the Partenariat, which brings it to life so beautifully. I invite the entire population and all visitors to discover the tribute video projection and the major anniversary exhibition, Vibrer ensemble, 20 ans d'expériences mémorables, which remind us how lucky we are to live in a creative city, where art is accessible to all, especially in the heart of downtown,” declared Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal.

“Celebrating an anniversary is not just about looking back, it is about looking to the future. For an entire generation, the Quartier des Spectacles has always existed. Our aim is to publicize and honour the contributions of the stakeholders, artists and cultural professionals who have, for the last 20 years, made contributions to the Quartier’s artistic landscape and to shaping its spirit. This artistic video projection project, focused on the memories and people of the Quartier des Spectacles, is a gift to the public, helping them see the heart of the city in a new light. It is also a salute to the people whose careers have been closely linked to the Quartier,” said Monique Simard, chair of the board of directors of the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership.

20 KEY PERSONALITIES TO MARK THE QUARTIER’S 20^TH ANNIVERSARY

For this first edition, the jury selected 25 personalities, artists, artisans and professionals from the cultural sector, forming 20 portraits who, collectively, embody the incredible energy and diversity of the Quartier des Spectacles. In addition to these 20 portraits, a special mention to Yvon Deschamps in recognition of his career as the artist as the artist who performed most often at Place des Arts during his career.

Pierre Allard and Annie Roy -  ATSA; Melissa Mongiat and Mouna Andraos - Daily tous les jours; Renée Daoust and Réal Lestage Daoust Lestage; Clément Demers - urbanist; Yvon Deschamps – comedian and singer; Elizabeth-Ann Doyle – MU; André Dudemaine – First Peoples’ Festival; Marie-Hélène Falcon - Festival TransAmériques; Rachel Laperrière and Stéphane Ricci - Ville de Montréal; Guy Latraverse - producer; Nadine Marchand - MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE; André Ménard - L’Équipe Spectra; Alain Mongeau - MUTEK; Kent Nagano - Orchestre symphonique de Montréal; Lorraine Pintal - Théâtre du Nouveau Monde; Jacques Primeau - producer, manager; Danielle Roy - Juste pour rire; Michel Sabourin - Club Soda; Monique Savoie - SAT; Alain Simard - Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, Les Francos de Montréal and MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE; Lamine Touré - Nuits d'Afrique.

The members of the jury are: Louise Beaudoin (board chair, RÉMI); Valérie Beaulieu (director, Service de la culture, Ville de Montréal); Jean-Robert Choquet (VP, board member, Culture Montréal; member of the Partnership’s recognition committee and jury chair for the first annual video projection tribute); Claude Deschênes (cultural journalist; member of the Partnership’s recognition committee); Stéphanie Moffatt (board secretary, ADISQ; board member, MACM; manager), Stanley Péan (writer; journalist; board member, Conseil des arts de Montréal; board chair, FIL); Céline Poisson (professor, École de design at UQAM); Louise St-Pierre (board chair, Société de la Place des Arts); and Geneviève Touchette (executive director, Le Central).

Starting September 13, the Quartier des Spectacles website will enable the public to explore the careers of the first 25 people whose contributions the Partnership is honouring.

A NEW WAY TO BRING A NEIGHBOURHOOD’S HISTORY TO LIFE

The Quartier des Spectacles Partnership launched a brainstorming process on the subject of recognition, and formed a working committee composed of members of the Partnership’s board and individuals involved in, or with a particular interest in, commemoration activities. Among other things, the committee’s mandate is to identify and evaluate ways in which the Quartier des Spectacles can honour the contributions of significant individuals, in the process helping safeguard the history of the Quartier des Spectacles.

The group soon embraced the idea of a tribute in video projection form – an original work that would provide an artistic illustration of the accomplishments of key people, making the creators and artisans better known to local and visiting members of the general public. A call for nominations was issued, inviting the members of the Partnership to submit the names of people to be honoured. The selection process weighed the significant contributions of the artist or professional to the Quartier des Spectacles, the quality of their approach and professional accomplishments, and the impact of their completed works.

ABOUT ELIZABETH LAFERRIÈRE

A Montreal-based director and graphic designer, Elizabeth creates moving images with a sensitive, spontaneous vision. Driven by instinct, she tells poetic and surreal stories through traditional screen or large-scale projections, blending several creative disciplines. She masters typography, collage and video. Her boundless curiosity leads her to multiply her collaborations. In addition to her personal practice, Elizabeth is developing a youth animation series in philosophy and is a lecturer at the Université du Québec à Montréal.

ABOUT THE QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES

The Quartier des Spectacles is 20 years old! The Quartier des Spectacles is Montréal’s cultural heart, boasting North America’s most concentrated and diverse group of cultural venues as well as numerous festivals and events. The Quartier also hosts innovative urban installations involving cutting-edge lighting design and immersive environments. The Quartier des Spectacles has become an international showcase for digital public art.

ABOUT THE QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES PARTNERSHIP

The Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, founded in 2003, is a non-profit organization with more than 85 members active in the district. It is responsible for animating the Quartier des Spectacles by programming cultural activities, managing and animating public spaces, providing distinctive illumination and promoting the Quartier as a must-visit cultural destination. The Partnership benefits from the support of the Ville de Montréal. 

More information: quartierdesspectacles.com

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MEDIA CONTACT  

Mélanie Mingotaud
Communications Mingotwo  
melanie@mingo2.ca  
514 582-5272   

SOURCE

Marie Lamoureux
marie.lamoureux@quartierdesspectacles.com
514 923-6772