City should invest more in supporting arts

Conseil des arts de Montréal plays key role, Jan-Fryderyk Pleszczynski and Nathalie Maillé say.

During its 375th-anniversary celebrations, Montreal experienced an exceptional cultural buzz. More than 200 events took place in the course of the summer, including Cité Mémoire by Lemieux-Pilon 4D Art and Michel-Marc Bouchard, the Montréal symphonique concert uniting our three major orchestras, the illumination of Jacques Cartier Bridge by the creators of Moment Factory and collaborators, and the original production Vice et vertu by Les 7 Doigts. The record number of tourists and locals who flocked to the celebrations testifies to the vibrancy of Montreal’s thriving cultural scene. Arts and culture are, without a doubt, formidable drivers of development and promotion for our metropolis.

At a time when the identities of large cities are rooted in arts and culture, the federal government has announced historic investments in the arts, and specifically in the Canada Council for the Arts. Arts communities throughout the country will benefit from these investments, but local talent must still be spotted and supported when new initiatives arise.

How can Montreal, with its impressive pool of artistic talent, take advantage of this window of opportunity and set itself apart from the competition? That’s the vital question. Our city’s development and reputation as an artistic hub have so far rested on the unfailing commitment of several actors. To fulfil its ambitions, the city of Montreal needs to invest more in those who stimulate the cultural development of our metropolis: to strengthen support systems such as the Service de la Culture, Montréal, Cultural Metropolis and the Conseil des arts de Montréal that provide us with a rich quality of life that is world renowned.

In one of the most vibrant arts communities in the country, the Conseil des arts de Montréal must be able to support its local talent. In

Arts and culture are, without a doubt, formidable drivers of development and promotion for our metropolis.

our new strategic plan, Maximize the Conseil des arts de Montréal’s Impact for Professional Artistic Excellence in Montreal, we have identified three priorities to ensure that we remain the leading partner for professional artists, all the while taking into account Montreal’s ecosystem:

Promoting greater equity and inclusion: After more than 10 years of defending cultural diversity in the arts, the Conseil would like to broaden its inclusive approach to will consider the needs of artists in a wider range of under-represented groups. Indigenous and anglophone artists, emerging talent, as well as artists from cultural communities all contribute immensely to Montreal’s artistic vitality. We would like to encourage the excellent work being created by this mosaic of professional artists. Outreach to support the presence of local artists working here and overseas: For the past 35 years, the Conseil des arts de Montréal touring program has presented the work of hundreds of artists to Montrealers. We would like to expand and promote the artistic events coming from local communities that punctuate the life of our city. Likewise, we hope to facilitate the participation of arts organizations in Montreal in financial, commercial or cultural missions overseas. We also aim to strengthen ties between the fields of arts and education. A culture of innovation to identify new practices: As a supporter of innovative practices, the Conseil recognizes the importance of staying abreast of new ways of working in the arts world. Furthermore, we want to show the extent to which art plays a pivotal role in the day-to-day lives of Montrealers.

These priorities will guide our choice of programs, partnerships and actions.

We also play a crucial leveraging role in Montreal thanks to our close relationship with professional artists.

Creators are our organization’s lifeblood, and thanks to the city of Montreal’s support, we will pursue our exceptional mission to transform our home into a one-of-a-kind metropolis. We are counting on our elected representatives to provide us with the proper budget.