A major donation from the Sandra and Alain Bouchard Foundation in support of Place des Arts’ Adaptive Arts program
Montreal, May 21, 2024 — Place des Arts and its foundation have received an exceptional $541,000 donation from the Sandra and Alain Bouchard Foundation. This donation, spread over a three-year period, will have a significant impact on the implementation of Place des Arts’ Adaptive Arts program, which offers free workshops for people living with functional limitations (psychological issues; physical, sensory, or intellectual limitations) or in situations of social exclusion (newcomers and francization students), serving as an introduction to the performing arts.
Video in French only
Since it was created five years ago, Place des Arts’ Adaptive Arts program has introduced over 1,200 people with specific needs to the performing arts, under the guidance of an artist-mediator. Participants take part in a series of tailor-made workshops on singing, dance, music, theatre, or writing, and then have an opportunity to give a brief performance, before an audience, in the Espace culturel Georges-Émile-Lapalme at Place des Arts.
“Culture is not a luxury, it is a necessity. The Sandra and Alain Bouchard Foundation has supported Place des Arts’ Adaptive Arts program since the very beginning, for we believe that art has the power to transform lives. Attending the final performances and witnessing the joy and pride on the participants’ faces is a profoundly moving experience. We are delighted to be renewing our commitment to fostering inclusion and access to the arts, as we are convinced that every single person deserves a chance to experience the performing arts and reap the full benefits,” stated Sandra Chartrand, President of the Sandra and Alain Bouchard Foundation.
“We extend our most sincere thanks to the Sandra and Alain Bouchard Foundation for its invaluable support of our Adaptive Arts program. Art is a powerful indicator of the potential within each of us, and this exceptional donation will allow even more people living with special needs to explore their creativity, improve their self-confidence, and develop a feeling of belonging by forging ties with other participants,” said Marie-Josée Desrochers, President and CEO of Place des Arts.
“Our foundation is sincerely grateful to Sandra Chartrand for this extremely generous donation. Arts and culture are wonderful vectors of social cohesion and their importance in the development of both individuals and communities is now irrefutable. We also hope that the trust and support the Sandra and Alain Bouchard Foundation has shown will inspire patrons and institutions, demonstrating the importance of investing in the arts to collectively enrich our society,” stated Frédérique Cardinal, Executive Director of the Fondation de la Place des Arts
Place des Arts’ Adaptive Arts program is made possible through the financial support of the Fondation de la Place des Arts and its partners, the Sandra and Alain Bouchard Foundation and the CDPQ. In 2020, the Adaptive Arts program received the very first Monique Lefebvre Universal Accessibility Prize from the AlterGo organization.