Montreal is rich in festivals. A major component of its cultural and touristic life, there are more than forty events dedicated to a specific form: theatre, dance, circus, cinema, music, photography, digital arts, visual arts, Aboriginal arts and more. Our festivals are an opening to the world and highlight the creativity of artists. Mainly frequented by our fellow citizens – a curious, demanding and passionate public – they offer unique access to works from here and abroad.
The dynamism of our festivals contributes to Montréal’s affirmation as a unique Francophone cultural metropolis in the Americas. At any time of the year and in different neighborhoods, festivals are eagerly awaited. They are a collective pride, the heart of a vibrant cultural activity.
Festivals are actors of social cohesion. We bring together artists from all over the country and welcome works from a diversity of cultures, creating a strong bond with the public. This communion is vital for the well-being of our society. This is what makes a city alive.
Our sector, like many others, has been severely tested by the pandemic. Sanitary measures have forced a reinvention of formats and programming. We have shown great agility in order to preserve the gains and deliver our events. This tour de force was possible thanks to the governments which made notable investments. We sincerely appreciate that.
However, the aftermath of this crisis is abrupt, revealing the fragility of our structures and the breathlessness of our teams. We are concerned about what is coming, whether it is inflation reflected in production costs, the essential increase in artists’ fees or human resources issues.
We are suffering the impacts of the deterioration of employment conditions in the cultural sector, which has been observed for many years. The current funding no longer allows us to maintain the jobs necessary for the proper deployment of our activities. The situation has dramatic consequences for the future.
Today, we are ringing the alarm bell. In a context where the special assistance offered during the pandemic has ended, our ability to offer substantial programming and contribute to the workplace and the economy is in jeopardy.
Governments need to put in place measures to improve employment conditions and to help us structure the coming years. The three levels of government must help festivals affirm a sustainable and renewed vision of the future. Finally, a lookout must be organized between the public authorities concerned to articulate coherent responses to the difficulties we express. The world has changed and our social, environmental and economic responsibilities are growing. We are ready to take up the challenges ahead of us, but want clear commitments in return.
Bearers of a living heritage whose vitality we ensure with multi-sectoral economic benefits, we are ready to invest all our courage, to mobilize our teams and to federate all the stakeholders to which we are attached. But we cannot meet this challenge without you.
Over the coming months, we will gladly invite Montrealers, tourists and day trippers to our events. It is gratifying to find large audiences and to stimulate with them the heart of Montreal’s cultural and artistic life. This solidarity deserves our commitment as well as yours.
* Co-signatories: Guilhem Caillard, Managing Director, Cinémania; Eric Cazes, Director of Operations, POP Montreal; Fabienne Colas, President and Founder, Montreal International Black Film Festival and Festival Haïti en folie; Pierre Corbeil, Managing Director, Fantasia; André Dudemaine, Executive Director, Festival international Présence autochtone; Marc Gauthier, Executive Director, International Documentary Meetings of Montreal; Audrey Genois, General Manager, MOMENTA Biennale de l’image; Nicolas Girard Deltruc, General Manager, Montreal New Cinema Festival; David Lavoie, General Manager, Festival TransAmériques; Stéphane Lavoie, General Manager, Montréal Complètement Cirque; Frédéric Loury, Founder, Managing Director and Principal Curator, Underground Art; Alain Mongeau, founder, general and artistic director, MUTEK; Sylvie Quenneville, General Manager, Les Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma; Suzanne Rousseau, General Manager, International Festival Nuits d’Afrique; Rafik Sabbagh, founder, general and artistic director, Festival Quartiers Danses
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the article “Montreal festivals sound the alarm”