School Program
Creating opportunities to put young Montrealers in touch with the performing arts. This is the philosophy behind Place des Arts’ School Program, which has been offered in the city’s schools for close to 10 years now. The program gives students, working with their teachers, a chance to take part in true creative experiences alongside enthusiastic artist-mediators.
Each project introduces students to a performing arts discipline, and includes one or two workshops offered by trained artist-mediators in aesthetic education. The project concludes with a show—relating to the selected discipline—at Place des Arts: David Goudreault (slam), Sam Faye et D-Track (rap), Shauit (writing and music ), Richardson Zéphir (humour) ou FLIP Fabrique (circus).
> Educational approach to projects
> Current projects
> Registrations and important dates
> Practical information
> Financial support for schools
> Contact information
Educational approach to projects
The ultimate goals of the program are to foster young people’s academic success, develop their critical sensibilities, and provide a sense of empowerment.
Cultural mediation
To prepare for the workshops, teachers are provided with several educational tools. The activities offered are designed to be easily integrated into the teaching of various academic subjects on the curriculum. At the project’s conclusion, the students are in a position to understand the work an artist must accomplish before taking a performance to the stage.
Each project includes the following teacher’s toolkit, which will be provided prior to the start of the activities:
- Study guide (content, activities, links to the school curriculum, additional resources)
- Video interview with an artist
- Tutorial video with an artist
Aesthetic education training (Formation en éducation esthétique)
In addition to guiding students through these creative and educational projects, Place des Arts’ education program also offers training for teachers of the participating groups to familiarize them with the aesthetic education and cultural mediation approaches favoured by Place des Arts, along with meetings with the artist-mediators prior to the start of the projects.
COMPLETED - Training takes place on November 16 and 17, 2023 at Place des Arts.
Current projects
Each project incluses one show selected from among the five following projects and one optional workshop:
- OPTIONAL: An artist-mediator will visit your school on one occasion for educational activities with the students, to familiarize them with the discipline of the project presented this year.
- At the end of the project, the students will attend the project presented this year’s show at Place des Arts, followed by a discussion with the artists.
Humour, côté cour, côté scène
Photo credit: Étienne Dufresne
FULL
This project introduces young people to comedy writing, improvisation, and the performance of a text, with professional artists.
Theme of the project: Humour
Date: March 25, 2024
Learn more about the project
Composer la présence
Photo credit: Carlos Guerra
This project familiarizes young people with the steps involved in the writing, composing, and performance of a song, with professional artists.
Theme of the project: Writing and music
Date: March 26, 2024
Learn more about the project
Au rythme des mots
Photo credit: Jennifer-Lynn Christie
This project introduces young people to the rhythmic and coded writing of hip-hop and to spoken word performance, with professional artists.
Theme of the project: Slam
Date: April 15, 2024
Learn more about the project
De la poésie au slam
Photo credit: Damian Siqueiros
This project introduces young people to poetic and emotionally involved writing and to spoken word performance, with professional artists.
Theme of the project: Slam
Date: April 22, 2024
Learn more about the project
Découverte des arts de la scène
The show and the optional workshop give students an opportunity to see a show, learn how it was created, and meet with its artists, thereby developing their ability to appreciate art while working with their teachers and artist-mediators.
Theme of the project: Urban dance and body expression
Date: April 23, 2024
Learn more about the project
Registrations and important dates
$12.25 per person (students and teaching staff) per project (tax included). Space is limited.
Are you from the CSSDM? You are entitled to a discount when purchasing your projects!
Preparatory workshop is included in the price of the pedagogical project.
Registrations: until February 16, 2024
Practical information
Preparatory Workshops
- Duration : 75 minutes per workshop;
- Maximum number of participants: 40 students per workshop;
- Location: at your school or at Place des Arts (Découverte des arts).
Shows
- Duration: 60 minutes without an intermission + a 30-minute discussion after the show;
- Arrival time: 30 to 45 minutes before the show’s start time (latecomers will only be admitted at an appropriate time—as determined by the on-site staff);
- Rest rooms: accessible in the hall;
- Coat check: not available (students must hold on to their coats and personal effects);
- Food and drinks: not permitted in the performance hall;
- Note: Teaching staff and accompanying adults are responsible for ensuring that students are well behaved in the performance hall.
Getting to Place des Arts
By metro (Place-des-Arts station)
Direct access to the performance hall without stepping outdoors. This station is now equipped with an elevator and offers access for people in wheelchairs.
By STM school shuttle
The STM has a shuttle service for school groups. Consult details on the STM website.
By STM bus
Bus routes 15, 24, 35, 55, 80, 125, and 129 all stop at Place des Arts, as do express buses 465 and 480. Plan you itinerary.
Financial support for schools
Schools in Montreal and surrounding areas registered for Place des Arts’ cultural mediation projects may benefit from government support for school cultural outings.
Learn more: www.education.gouv.qc.ca or visit our section Support for School Field Trips.
Contact information
If you have any questions about the School Program, you can contact a member of our team at education@placedesarts.com or by phone at 514 285-4258.
School Program is made possible through the financial support of the Fondation de la Place des Arts.