Montréal, February 20, 2024 — Artistic experiences flourished throughout Montréal in 2023. With visions of solidarity and shared narratives centred on the search for collective meaning, these brilliant initiatives offered extraordinary new perspectives on the world. The 38th edition of the Grand Prix du Conseil des arts de Montréal (CAM) will take place at the Palais des congrès de Montréal at noon on April 11, 2024, honouring the eight finalists that best represent this year’s creative projects.
This celebration of the arts will be hosted by Édith Cochrane, actress and host of the new Télé-Québec show Les temps fous. Renowned for her gift of gab, she will surely delight the expected audience of 800.
Rewarding exceptional contributions from Montréal arts organizations since 1985, this major CAM event will be attended by artists and cultural workers as well as representatives of the city and business communities. Buy your tickets and tables today!
Congratulations to 2023’s eight nominees: Massimadi Foundation, Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel (Kanatenhs – When The Pine Needles Fall), MAPP_MTL, Marguerite à bicyclette, Oktoecho, Plural (The Contemporary Art Galleries Association), Studio 303, and La traversée du siècle (by Alice Ronfard, based on work by Michel Tremblay). Explore their memorable productions on the Grand Prix website.
“The 38th Grand Prix’s eight finalists brought the Montréal public initiatives of remarkable sensitivity, creating welcoming venues for expression and freedom, using art to foster a sense of shared humanity. Their creative force gives us hope… For a shared future filled with promise. Once again, our finalists have shown us what a crucial role artists play in our society.” — Nathalie Maillé, Executive Director of CAM
VOTE FOR THE PRIX DU PUBLIC TÉLÉ-QUÉBEC
Meet the eight finalists in the videos and cast a vote for your favourite project! The organization or artist with the most votes will receive a $10,000 grant from Télé-Québec. When you vote, you become eligible to win a $500 voucher you can redeem at cultural events presented by nearly 725 Montréal arts organizations.
Which initiative excites you the most? Vote for your fav!
$90,000 IN GRANTS TO BE AWARDED AT THE GRAND PRIX
The laureate of the distinguished Grand Prix receives a $30,000 grant and original artwork specially created for the winning organization or artist. Two other awards will be presented at the April 11th ceremony, each with a grant of $10,000: the Prix du jury, awarded by the Caisse Desjardins de la Culture, and the Prix du public Télé-Québec. Generous patrons have ensured that all finalists will receive a $5,000 grant.
Introducing the eight finalists of the 38th Grand Prix
Massimadi Foundation
The Massimadi Festival of art and film celebrates 15 years of community engagement, art, and outreach. The Massimadi Foundation takes an intersectional and multidisciplinary approach to distinctive programming and a mentorship program for Afro-queer screenwriters. Drawing on the cultural knowledge of the Black LGBTQ+ community, the organization applies art and a sense of wonder to achieve transcendence.
Katsi'tsakwas Ellen Gabriel (Kanatenhs – When The Pine Needles Fall)
Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel’s documentary on the 1990 Kanehsatà:ke Resistance, Kanatenhs – When The Pine Needles Fall, reclaims narrative power on behalf of Kanien’kehá:ka women and affirms their central role, which is often overlooked. The accomplished activist and artist, in an act of remembering and truth-seeking, shows day one of the siege through the eyes and actual voices of the land’s guardians.
MAPP_MTL
A cutting-edge block party of digital creativity, festival newcomer MAPP-MTL unites over 10,000 people through the vast creative potential of projection mapping. Faces in the audience glow in the light of new works by videographers, set to the beat of musical performances. Families and creatives alike explore Mile End’s architectural heritage through massive projected images.
Marguerite à bicyclette
Marguerite à bicyclette makes its performances green and accessible with local tours effected by bicycle! True to their green values, the trio’s circus performances use recycled costumes and sets. In their eco-designed shows, the only brand-new things are ideas. Powered by pedals, the artists reached thousands of people, presenting 52 performances in 12 districts in Montréal and beyond, covering a grand total of 1,500 km in 2023.
Oktoecho
Since 2001, Oktoecho has been forming ensembles to create blended musical works under composer Katia Makdissi-Warren. The organization criss-crosses Montréal boroughs, notably with its latest show Transcestral, fusing traditions and transcending borders with inspired mixes that may include poetry, throat singing, Sufi songs, Métis songs, and pow-wow singing and drumming.
Plural (The Contemporary Art Galleries Association)
The Papier Art Fair was a democratizing force in contemporary art for more than ten years. The Contemporary Art Galleries Association has re-launched this beloved event as Plural, embracing a plurality of diverse voices and practices. The growing fair welcomes a record number of exhibitors, encouraging acquisitions and enhancing the visitor experience for novice and expert alike.
Studio 303
Since 1989, the underground art scene has found space to flourish at an alternative venue that celebrates experimental dance: Studio 303. A forerunner in the larger discourse around accessibility, inclusiveness and justice, it has always been avowedly feminist, queer, anti-oppression and anti-racist, deploying a range of tools and means for artists to develop professionally while respecting their uniqueness.
La traversée du siècle by Alice Ronfard, based on the work of Michel Tremblay
Gifted dramaturge and director Alice Ronfard takes on a seemingly impossible challenge in lending her genius to the greater good with a performance that contains the ensemble of Tremblay’s oeuvre. Forming a monumental fresco, the immersive 12-hour production La traversée du siècle tells the story of 20th-century Québec through 75 characters from the works of Michel Tremblay. This unprecedented event saw seven Montréal theatres collaborate to offer public performances.
THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS AND PATRONS
Selection of the finalists and winners of the 38th Grand Prix is made possible through the generous support of CAM’s major partners: Télé-Québec, Desjardins Caisse de la Culture, La Presse, and new creative partner Leeroy.
Our warmest thanks also goes out to the patrons and donors whose gifts help support the finalists and the artistic performances featured at the 38th Grand Prix: Power Corporation of Canada, Bell, Tourisme Montréal and YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport.
About Le Conseil des arts de Montréal
Through its various forms of assistance, the Conseil des arts de Montréal supports artistic innovation and creative expression in all its diversity, with the aim of promoting Montréal artists, producers and presenters. Since 1956, it has played a unique role as a catalyst, helping make Montréal a vibrant cultural metropolis, recognized at home and abroad for its artistic vitality.
-30-
MEDIA RELATIONS
Rosemonde Communications
Rosemonde Gingras
514-458-8355
rosemonde@rosemondecommunications.com
SOURCE
Hugo Couturier
Director, Communications and Partnerships
Conseil des arts de Montréal
hugo.couturier@montreal.ca
