Adaptive Arts
The Adaptive Arts Program offers an introduction to the performing arts through workshops that have been custom designed for individuals with functional limitations.
We have always firmly believed that the performing arts can play an important role in revealing the potential inherent in us all.
The Adaptive Arts Program has, to date, allowed hundreds of participants and dozens of organizations to explore the performing arts through workshops led by professional artists.
Workshops take place at Place des Arts, in various spaces arranged to suit the needs of the participants’ specific situations, allowing them to take part comfortably, securely, and confidently.
At the conclusion of each series of workshops, participants are invited to share the fruits of their explorations in a public performance at Place des Arts. Ultimately, all of these activities help foster the participants’ social and cultural inclusion.
Note: in the exceptional context of the current COVID-19 pandemic, workshops and final performances are being held virtually.
Profile of participants
The Adaptive Arts Program targets adults with functional limitations (mental health issues; physical, sensory, or intellectual limitations) or who are experiencing social and cultural exclusion (francisation, literacy, new arrivals).
Participants must be affiliated with a socio-community, cultural, or health-care organization.
Through the Youth Adaptive Arts Program, workshops are also available for young people with functional limitations.
Projects for the 2020-2021 season
For the 2020-2021 season, the Adaptive Arts Program consists of four projects centred on dance, singing, music, and expressive interpretation. Each project is broken down into a series of practical workshops offering an introduction to the performing arts, led by an artist-mediator.
Chant choral
This series of workshops invites participants to explore the pleasure of various forms of choral singing. Participants are guided through the creative process with a multitude of exercises that require both creativity and collaboration—spoken and sung voice work, controlled improvisation, body and voice warmups, rhythm, projection, and canonical exercises.
Learn more about the project
Danse créative
Photo credit: Mikaël Theimer
This series of workshops invites participants to explore dance as a means of expression through the creation of choreographies and collaborative experimentation involving movement, rhythm, spacing, and improvisation.
Learn more about the project
Jeux d’expression
Photo credit: Mikaël Theimer
This series of workshops focused on oral expression or body language either explores poetry and spoken word through writing and oration (writing, vocal, and posture exercises) or the physical dimension of theatre, inspired by visual and sound elements (objects, musical soundtracks, masks, or clown play).
Learn more about the project
Musique percussive
Photo credit: Mikaël Theimer
This series of workshops introduces participants to group musical performance through the rhythm of words, sounds, and emotions. Guided through various rhythm and vocal exercises, participants learn to improvise and work together to create original musical atmospheres using percussion and their voices. Group creation and exploration are the focus of these workshops.
Learn more about the project
Monique-Lefebvre Prize, awarded by the AlterGo organization
In 2020, Place des Arts’ Adaptive Arts Program won the very first Monique-Lefebvre Prize, awarded by the AlterGo organization. To date, our program has allowed over 450 participants and 24 organizations to explore the performing arts through workshops and public performances.
We have always firmly believed that the performing arts can play an important role in revealing the potential inherent in us all. We sincerely thank the AlterGo organization for the prize and the Théâtre Aphasique for nominating us.
The Adaptive Arts Program is made possible through the financial support of the Fondation de la Place des Arts and its partner, the Sandra and Alain Bouchard Foundation. Make your donation today!
From the very start, the program has also benefitted from the support of the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications.