The Conseil des arts de Montréal (CAM) is suspending two programs which since 2008 have allowed libraries and bookstores to host authors in residence. Particularly at issue: the crisis experienced by the Union of Writers of Quebec (UNEQ) over the past year.
Each year, in partnership with UNEQ, the CAM offered a program that financed the residency of two writers in municipal libraries. Exceptionally, three writers in 2023 were able to benefit from this initiative, which is accompanied by a grant of $15,000 for each of the participating authors.
However, by mutual agreement, the CAM and the UNEQ made the decision not to renew this program for 2024. “During the discussions to renew the partnership of the two library residencies for the year 2024, the UNEQ was going through unfortunately an unprecedented organizational crisis and did not have the human resources to move the project forward,” the CAM said by email.
Remember that the general director and all members of the UNEQ board of directors left their positions last spring after a stormy general meeting, where a majority of authors refused to have union dues deducted from their income. In the preceding weeks, UNEQ had also lost employees. The very tense debate about union dues had continued since December. Several authors criticized the UNEQ for its amateurism and lack of transparency.
Resumption possible in two years
Joined by The duty On Monday, the writers’ association confirmed that the library residency program was put on hold by mutual agreement with the CAM for 2024. Both the UNEQ and the CAM, however, indicated that their partnership could resume in two years. “The program was suspended circumstantially. The door remains open to resume discussions in the future,” indicated the CAM.
This program is the one that the poet Maude Jarry benefited from at the Plateau-Mont-Royal library. This former thanatologist wanted to take advantage of this six-month residency to collect testimonies and lead “conversations around death” as part of the writing of her next book.
His project did not please the City, and his contract was ultimately terminated. The CAM wanted to clarify that this story had nothing to do with the pausing of this program.
End of bookstore residencies
What’s more, this isn’t the only residency program that’s going by the wayside this year. The CAM, a funder linked to the City of Montreal, announced that its bookstore residency program has not been renewed. This was the result of an agreement with the Quebec Booksellers Association. An author has participated every year for 15 years. A scholarship of $7,000 was paid to him.
“We were certainly disappointed to learn that CAM was ending the program. But we don’t see that as a disavowal. The Council continues to fund many of our projects. I can’t say that we are denouncing. I see it more as a change of direction on their part,” said Jade Bergeron, director of development for the Booksellers Association.
For its part, the Conseil des arts de Montréal explains that this bookstore residency program attracted very few applications. The departure, last February, of the general director of the Booksellers Association, Katherine Fafard, also pushed the CAM to close this program.
The CAM also announced that its residency program in schools, which is open to writers and illustrators, had been renewed for next year.