Spring is coming to the Quartier des Spectacles!

Montreal, April 11, 2019 – With the return of the iconic 21 Balançoires/21 Swings on the Promenade des Artistes, spring has finally sprung in the Quartier des Spectacles. After a turn on the swings, Montrealers of all ages can check out the installation Our DNA before a game of giant chess, while workers and other visitors can take a break in the Quartier’s “backyard” with Dans ma cour... ç’a du chien ! on pedestrians-only Sainte-Catherine Street throughout the spring and summer. When night falls, the buildings light up with the delightfully colourful architectural projections Synergies and UQAM : 50 ans d’audace. Get outside and enjoy spring in the welcoming Quartier des Spectacles, complete with an incredible variety of free activities!

21 BALANÇOIRES/21 SWINGS AND OUR DNA
APRIL 8 TO MAY 28

For the 9^th straight year, be part of a unique cooperative musical experience with 21 Balançoires/21 Swings, an interactive installation that’s part street furniture, part playground. As you swing, you trigger musical notes. With multiple swings in motion, a melody emerges. The installation, by Daily tous les jours, lights up after dark.

Part of the official Digital Spring program.

While visiting the Promenade des Artistes, discover Our DNA by artist and sculptor Patrick Bérubé. The enormous spiral staircase – an iconic part of Montreal’s streetscapes – embodies the friendly neighbourhood culture of the city’s back alleys. Suspended in the air and loaded with unusual items, the installation evokes the DNA double helix, reminding us that our differences are what shape our collective identity.

UQAM: 50 ANS D’AUDACE
APRIL 9 TO MAY 19
Architectural projection

To mark the 50^th anniversary of the Université du Québec à Montréal, HUB Studio has created a tribute to the university with an architectural projection comprising seven vignettes linked by a common theme. The work was premiere on April 9, the anniversary of UQAM’s inception.

SYNERGIE
UNTIL JUNE 2
Architectural projection

You might already be familiar with Synergie, the photographic installation on a wall at the corner of Marquette St. and Mont-Royal Ave. Creators Patrick Dionne and Miki Gingras have adapted it for the wall outside Saint-Laurent metro station, where it comes to life. Synergie explores the concept of a neighbourhood as a territory – a space we share with a group with which we identify. The projection depicts the everyday activities of Plateau Mont-Royal residents, illustrating the many different kinds of energy that embody the dynamism and atmosphere of a cosmopolitan neighbourhood.

SAINTE-CATHERINE STREET FOR PEDESTRIANS ONLY
MAY 3 TO SEPTEMBER 24

Visitors will enjoy Sainte-Catherine’s summer layout, with no vehicle traffic between De Bleury St. and Saint-Laurent Blvd. Take a refreshing break by the fountain in Place des Festivals.

Game enthusiasts: come challenge your friends or a stranger to a game of chess on one of the giant boards. There will be two tournaments this year to maximize the fun.

DANS MA COUR... Ç’A DU CHIEN !
MAY 3 TO 29

For its second season, this quirky and original installation inspired by Montreal backyards returns to bring a whimsical touch to Sainte-Catherine St. Comprising several fun rest and picnic areas, Dans ma cour... ç’a du chien ! will be the perfect spot to enjoy an al fresco meal or bask in the sunshine. This year, meet the silly, colourful and very kitschy dogs, each with a funny story to tell. The installation is the brainchild of artist and multidisciplinary designer Mélanie Crespin.

COMING TO THE QUARTIER IN MAY

More spring and summer activities are coming soon to the Quartier des Spectacles, before summer festival season:

Cuisine ta ville par l’ATSA
May 9 to 12, 2019

Pouzza Fest
May 17 to 19, 2019

OFFTA
May 24 to June 2, 2019

Le Festival TransAmériques with the dance show Innervision from Martin Messier
May 29 to June 1^st, 2019

Les Jardins Gamelin
May 30 to September 29, 2019

DISCOVER THE QUARTIER WITH THE MOBILE APP

Whether you’re a regular or a first-time visitor, the Quartier’s mobile app is brimming with interesting original content to help you discover the many facets of Montreal’s cultural heart. The app covers everything from the Quartier’s colourful history to the exceptional individuals who continue to shape it. There are also numerous themed walks through the district. Let the built-in map guide you through the Quartier’s cultural venues and points of interest, and use the shows and events calendar to plan your outings.

More information: quartierdesspectacles.com

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ABOUT THE QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES AND THE PARTNERSHIP

The Quartier des Spectacles is Montreal’s cultural heart, boasting North America’s most concentrated and diverse group of cultural venues. Year round, the district is home to countless festivals and events, and hosts innovative urban installations involving cutting-edge lighting design, immersive environments or interactive digital spaces. The Quartier des Spectacles is a showcase for new multimedia technology, making Montreal a global leader in the urban exhibition of digital content.

The Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, founded in 2003, is a non-profit organization with more than 80 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 is supported by the Ville de Montréal.

More information: quartierdesspectacles.com/

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