Place des Arts celebrates its 60th anniversary! An artistic journey through time, a virtual reality installation, a dance evening, and a big talk: four free activities to mark the occasion.
Montreal, September 21, 2023 – It was 60 years ago, to the day, that the Grande Salle—which later became Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier—was inaugurated. Place des Arts began as a dream to endow the city with the modern cultural infrastructure that would put Montreal and Quebec on the circuit for major international shows, while also benefiting cultural organizations and artists here at home. Driven by Mayor Jean Drapeau’s ambition and by the commitment of the Quebec government of the time, Place des Arts was also intended to revitalize the eastern part of downtown Montreal, on a cultural level, of course, but also on the urban, social, and economic levels. Over time, Place des Arts has become the cultural epicentre of Quebec and its metropolis. With its six performance halls totalling 8,000 seats, its stores and businesses, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal housed within its perimeter, its public spaces open at all times, and the Fernand Lindsay Amphitheatre in Joliette (which it has managed since 1995), Place des Arts is today a true civic hub, which is rare in North America.
To celebrate this 60th anniversary, four unifying arts projects are taking place throughout the fall. Here’s a look at these free activities, open to all audiences, with no reservations required.
Exhibition: Une traversée artistique
Produced by Montréal en Histoires, this exhibition delves into the Place des Arts timeline. Visitors will be carried off on an artistic journey through the eras, peppered with images from notable shows, evocative anecdotes, and eloquent first-hand accounts. The history of this well-loved institution is brought to life, arousing emotions and stirring memories, while opening a window onto the future.
ESPACE CULTUREL GEORGES-ÉMILE-LAPALME, STARTING SEPTEMBER 21.
PHI + PDA’s new virtual reality installation: New Media Pioneers
New Media Pioneers celebrates the work of two digital and performing arts precursors: Michel Lemieux of 4D ART and Édouard Lock, artists who remain at the forefront of multidisciplinary creativity, at the crossroads of new technology. The installation features ÉCHO, Édouard Lock’s latest film, a choreographic composition that plunges the spectator into a gallery of cinematographic mirrors that shape and distort the body’s geometry. Visitors will also get to see Untouched, Icarus, and Invisible, recent virtual reality works by Michel Lemieux.
PLACE DES ARTS EXHIBITION ROOM, FROM SEPTEMBER 21 TO DECEMBER 30, 2023.
TEMPÉO, Dance and Music Festival: Special 1960s Evening
Citizens are invited to take another journey through time with the Swing’n’Rhythm troupe, led by professional dancer Myriam Tétreault, who will teach participants a few lively and dynamic rockabilly dance steps. Next up, the Baby Boomer’s Band will perform rock & roll classics to get everyone singing and dancing along. And finally, to keep the crowd smiling and bring the evening to a close, DJ Lucky Luc will keep spinning more retro musical nuggets. A nostalgic trip—guaranteed—on a huge outdoor dancefloor! The Festival will continue on September 22 with an evening of Latin dancing and music, and on September 23 with an Indigenous dance and music evening.
PLACE DES ARTS ESPLANADE, SEPTEMBER 21, STARTING AT 6:30 PM.
Entretien arts et société: 60 years of Place des Arts – Artists’ Memories
As part of the Journées de la culture, the Entretiens arts et société series is giving four artists the opportunity to share their special memories of Place des Arts. Multidisciplinary artist Michel Lemieux; École supérieure de ballet du Québec Artistic Director and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens principal dancer from 1990 to 2006 Anik Bissonnette; conductor Nicolas Ellis; and actor Denis Bernard will join moderator Catherine Perrin. A Q&A session with the audience will follow the discussion.
ESPACE CULTUREL GEORGES-ÉMILE-LAPALME, SEPTEMBER 29, 5:30 PM.
Details : placedesarts.com/en/60years
Place des Arts, the power to bring people together
Place des Arts is the largest cultural complex in Canada. Every year, over 900 highly diverse shows and events are presented in the complex to close to a million spectators, thanks to its producers, partners, resident companies, and associates—DUCEPPE, Les Grands Ballets, the Opéra de Montréal, the Orchestre Métropolitain, the OSM, and Danse Danse—as well as festivals of every kind, which also bring its public spaces to life for hundreds of thousands of people.
Place des Arts has always had a mission to open its performance halls and other spaces to all citizens, notably through its cultural, educational, and outreach activities supported by its foundation. Place des Arts strives to be a gateway open to all, with no barriers. It wants to be the engine that brings the population together, inviting people to share emotions and take part in the social dialogue brought about by the performing arts, from home and abroad.
Place des Arts would like to thank the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec for its support.
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Source:
Place des Arts
Marie-Claude Lépine | gestionnaire communications
Relations de presse:
ROY & TURNER COMMUNICATIONS
Natalie Dion | ndion@roy-turner.com