This text is part of the special section Culture Montérégie
The Montérégie puts culture in the spotlight thanks to infrastructures that are well anchored in its decor. Overview.
The City Theater
In Longueuil, the establishment founded in 1989 has been attracting the public for 34 years in its two performance halls and its studios. Theatre, dance, circus arts… Each year, the Théâtre de la Ville offers more than 90 performances of various disciplines. “We are known for our artistic policy where we put forward more niche arts,” explains Dominique Lapierre, general manager of the Théâtre de la Ville.
Theater and creation in particular occupy a privileged place. “Our mission at the Theater is really to have a diversity of artists,” she says. Moreover, the non-profit organization wishes to honor the emerging scene, especially at the end of the health crisis, underlines Mme Stone.
Last February, the Théâtre de la Ville, after integrating concert music into its programming, also won the Multidisciplinary Presenter of the Year award during the 26e Gala des prix Opus, presented by the Conseil québécois de la musique.
The main challenge? Attract young people, says the general manager. This is why the organization works with schools and school service centers to attract the next generation to come to its rooms. “We always say that culture is the soul of a people, but we make sure it is preserved,” says Ms.me Stone.
Last December, the organization also received financial support under the Longueuil Agglomeration’s Territorial Partnership Program. The money will be used to host four artists in creative residency. “It’s important that they have places that are sometimes decentralized from Montreal. And that’s what we’re trying to do. »
The Haut-Richelieu SPEC
The initiative born in 1989 attracts people from all over Haut-Richelieu. It offers approximately 300 performances in the performing arts through its two halls, the Théâtre des Deux Rives and the Cabaret-Théâtre du Vieux-Saint-Jean. The organization is also responsible for programming at the Salle Emma-Albani at the Pôle culturel de Chambly. “It really allows us to create a synergy between our two municipalities, by offering the right show in the right room and at the right time”, explains the general manager of the SPEC du Haut-Richelieu, Guy Boulanger.
But not only. “The shows are the tip of the iceberg, because the bulk of our work is also to do artistic mediation, especially with young people,” says Mr. Boulanger. Master classes, workshops at school, travel diaries… the organization sets up more than 1,200 mediation activities annually.
In 2006, the hall of the Théâtre des Deux Rives was completely renovated at a cost of $10.5 million. The SPEC du Haut-Richelieu has also established partnerships with the cities of La Prairie and Venise-en-Québec. “We come to create a better cohesion with the shows in different places,” explains Mr. Boulanger.
Over the next few years, the SPEC would also like to set up a new room where the stage could be moved. “It’s a very long-term project. There is a lack of 250-seat equipment which would be a black box where we could present different artistic forms and where the technical capacities would be multiple,” says the general manager. This room would be a gathering place that would allow emerging or amateur artists to develop their audience.
Valspec
A pioneer in broadcasting in Quebec, the Vaslpec organization, founded in 1976, quickly took over the Salle Albert-Dumouchel at the Collège de Valleyfield as its favorite place. “There were no professional rooms before,” explains Émilie Fortier, general and artistic director of Valspec. The establishment’s founder, Jean-Pierre Leduc, also participated in the creation, in 1989, of the Réseau Scènes, which brings together performing arts presenters working in the greater Montreal area and surrounding areas. . Today, Valspec also takes care of the Cabaret d’Albert and the Café chez Rose.
The room was the scene of the beginning of several careers, explains Mme Fortier. Thus, it notably allowed Michel-Maxime Legault, Mathieu Quesnel and Sébastien Dodge to discover their vocation as actors. “It created a home where there were young talents who could attend multidisciplinary professional shows and, subsequently, go to work in the big cities,” says Ms.me Fortier.
The heritage building is located in the heart of the city of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. “When people want to see a show in their municipality, it’s a great outing. There are restaurants, the architecture of the building is magnificent. All of this contributes to their experience,” says Ms.me Fortier.
Last December, the organization received financial support under the Montérégie-Ouest Territorial Partnership Program. The funds will be used to implement Cossette Project, a musical review about Pierre Cossette, the man behind the Grammy’s awards, who is from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. This project will be presented as part of the 150e city anniversary. “We are really in the pre-production, research phase”, reveals Mme Fortier.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.