The Pantoum, a real breeding ground for the next generation of Quebec musicians, needs help to complete the financing of a project undertaken in the fall in its nest at 76 rue Saint-Vallier Ouest. Without financial support from the Ministry of Culture, this now established career incubator threatens to collapse under the heaviness of the bill – to the great dismay of around twenty renowned artists who implore Quebec to untie its purse strings.
The hammers have been working for several months in the building acquired in 2022 by the non-profit organization. It was necessary to restore an elevator to ensure universal access to the rehearsal rooms, recording studios and the performance hall perched on the third and last floor, soundproof the entire building thanks to a series of structural works, also take the opportunity to give new beauty to this premises which has become, in a decade, a catalyst for the cultural excitement of Quebec in recent years.
Initial estimate of the cost of the work in 2022: two million dollars. Since then, inflation and a few unforeseen events, notably the presence of asbestos in unexpected places, have increased the bill by around 25%.
As the project begins its final stretch, the NPO faces a shortfall of around $500,000.
“We have had significant cost increases – as with any work these days,” explains Émilie Tremblay, the general director of the Pantoum. Much of the work is behind us, but we need one last dose of love. We are in the home stretch, our concept is working well but we really need the support of the provincial government. »
The Pantoum received nothing from Quebec, adds the general director, since the work of the NPO fell into the cracks of the Ministry of Culture and did not meet the admission criteria for its subsidies.
Already, the precarious financial situation of the organization is compromising certain activities. The Pantoum festival, which stimulates discoveries with its affordable blind programming, could begin a sabbatical of indefinite duration this year. “The festival,” admits Émilie Tremblay, “is above all the one that risks falling by the wayside. »
The NPO hopes to be able to count on help from the public and the federal government. Ottawa is not closing the door to injecting an additional sum to cover part of the bill that remains to be paid. A crowdfunding campaign must also be launched with the ambition of raising $85,000. The share requested from Quebec therefore amounts to $250,000.
“That seems like a lot of money to me for a tiny NPO that has few employees and that keeps the project at arm’s length — but it doesn’t represent that much for a government,” insists Quebec artist Lou-Adriane Cassidy.
An open letter
Made aware of the financial difficulties of the Pantoum, she and her accomplice Ariane Roy wrote an open letter to the attention of the Minister of Culture, Mathieu Lacombe, who implored the latter to act to ensure the sustainability of the organization.
“As artists evolving in the Quebec music industry, we have seen the titanic work deployed by the founders of this establishment,” they write in a letter shared with The duty. From a small, self-sufficient organization held at arm’s length by people determined to make things happen, the Pantoum has transformed into a recognized and respected structure, bringing real change in an increasingly precarious environment. . A possible closure of this establishment could have major consequences for Quebec artists, but also for an entire cultural network which relies on institutions like Le Pantoum so that culture can flourish throughout Quebec and not just in Montreal. »
Around twenty signatories support their request, as diverse as Hubert Lenoir, Serge Fiori, Coeur de pirate, the Boulay sisters, Les Louanges and Michel Rivard.
“The Pantoum is a place that perhaps doesn’t even exist elsewhere in the world,” adds Lou-Adriane Cassidy. It’s really precious, there are many of us artists who recognize it — and we would like the Minister of Culture to recognize it too. »
The approach undertaken by the signing artists, some of whom have never set foot in the Pantoum but who know its importance by reputation, particularly affects Émilie Tremblay. “It’s a big wave of love,” he greets, emotional after difficult days spent with his nose in accounting. We don’t do the Pantoum for recognition or visibility, it’s for the artists and for the people that we work. »
The Pantoum’s setbacks resonated all the way to the National Assembly on Tuesday, as part of the study of the budgetary appropriations allocated to the National Capital. The solidarity MP for Jean-Lesage, Sol Zanetti, took advantage of his speaking time to send a heartfelt cry to the minister responsible for the region, Jonatan Julien: “I know that you are aware of this but I am taking this opportunity to talk about it here: we must save the Pantoum,” insisted the elected official of the second opposition.
“We will certainly support,” replied the minister.