Last week, the closure of La Tulipe, an emblematic venue on the Plateau Mont-Royal, created a shock wave in the Montreal cultural community. The Quebec Court of Appeal ordered a cessation of all sound amplification after a neighboring real estate developer successfully invoked municipal noise bylaws. This decision is a reminder of the challenges facing cultural venues in Montreal.
La Tulipe is just the latest in a series of places affected by noise regulations. Although these regulations are intended to protect the quality of life of residents, they neglect the specific needs of performance halls.
By criminalizing both music live and recorded, these regulations prohibit any form of amplified sound audible outside the walls of performance halls, which limits their ability to create a dynamic atmosphere in a city renowned for its excitement. In addition, they impose fines of up to $12,000, which endangers the future of these cultural spaces.
As general director of Scènes de musique alternatives du Québec (SMAQ), the association that represents independent music venues across the province, I received numerous interview requests following the decision of the Court of appeal and closure of La Tulipe. When asked if I am surprised by this turn of events, my answer is unfortunately no. Although I am deeply upset and disappointed, this does not surprise me. This situation is the result of systemic exclusion, disrespect and chronic neglect of our city’s independent music venues.
The particularly striking case of La Tulipe is indicative of a broader problem. Municipal regulations, combined with cumbersome bureaucratic procedures and a lack of financial support (or lack thereof), make the viability of performance venues significantly more difficult. The City’s hypocritical position on music live is a blatant example of the tense relationship between our sector and public authorities, whether at the municipal, provincial or federal level. This situation highlights a crying need for readjustment of public policies regarding music live.
Independent music venues host more than 80% of professional concerts in Quebec, including Montreal. Almost all local and Canadian artists perform there. The majority of musicians in Montreal, Quebec and Canada earn most of their income thanks to these venues, which also play a key role in the emergence of local and national talents.
Without these small stages, there would be no big stages, and it is thanks to these places that artists end up playing on the most prestigious stages of our province and our country. Despite their crucial role in the promotion and development of local and national artists, these independent music venues benefit from very little public financial assistance, which is almost non-existent both at the federal and municipal levels in Montreal.
Although the provincial government has launched a pilot project with a budget of one million dollars to support these establishments, it should be noted that the criteria for this program exclude most Montreal theaters. Furthermore, this sum is derisory compared to other cultural programs of the Ministry of Culture and Communications, whose annual budget reaches one billion dollars. Quite frankly, it is clear that there is a desperate lack of initiatives to address the urgent needs of this sector.
These places are also facing dizzying cost increases: inflation of more than 40% in the sector, a drop in attendance of 20%, a labor shortage, as well as a mental health crisis among the staff and operators. Add to that massive rent increases and, yes, noise complaints, which are currently conspiring to eliminate music live of our urban landscape. Despite all this, venues continue to support the music industry in Montreal and Quebec, operating on minimal margins and under difficult economic conditions. They do it out of passion and love of the arts, although these economic realities make the situation unsustainable.
Music live in Montreal is at a critical turning point, and concrete measures must be taken without delay. It is not a question of blaming an individual or a political party, but of recognizing, collectively, the importance that we wish to give to music and culture in our city. These venues, pillars of our artistic scene, will not survive without immediate and substantial support. If we do not act now, we risk losing them forever, which would leave an irreparable void in Montreal’s cultural landscape and in our lives.