It’s Springtime, and Hope Is in the Air!
After several months of cold, dull weather, the spring sunshine is finally back to warm us up and it seems like everything is coming back to life. Hard on the heels of our museums and cinemas, we’re finally seeing theatres and performing arts venues open their doors starting tomorrow… after being closed for 176 days! We can now look ahead to the summer with renewed optimism—a cautious optimism, of course—and to the opportunity to reconnect with our audiences. No doubt there are other twists and turns in store for us, but let’s take a moment to revel in the feeling.
In the ring, where vaccines and variants are duking it out, the choice is indisputable. Is the worse behind us? Yes, I think so. The light is no longer just at the end of the tunnel, it’s right in front of us, and very real. That’s why I am inviting you to join us at noon on Tuesday, June 22 for an event that will highlight the inspiring initiatives that have sprung up over the last year.
Further details will be coming shortly, but you can expect a wonderful kickoff to the summer! Today, the Conseil des arts de Montréal is releasing the revised version of its Civility and Anti-Harassment Policy. The policy and its new Companion Guide aim to safeguard personal dignity and equip our communities with the necessary resources. Please download them and adapt them to fit your needs. They’re there for you!
Earlier this week, we announced that the CAM is aligning its operations with the decision of the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and postponing the launch of its General Funding Program for two-year and four-year grants to 2023. In the meantime, just like the city’s artists, the Conseil des arts de Montréal team plans to pull out all the stops to keep the arts alive and kicking in the Montreal region. For instance, the second edition of Art Out in the Open, which was such a resounding success last summer, was launched with an increased $1-million budget. Whether you’re an artist, an artists’ collective or an organization, we look forward to receiving your projects!
On a final note, I’d like to invite you to read the brief entitled De la précarité à la dignité: nouveaux regards pour améliorer le statut de l’artiste [From insecurity to dignity: New perspectives on enhancing artist status] (In French Only), which the Conseil submitted to the public consultations on the review of legislation on artist status. I also co-signed a letter with the directors of Canada’s leading municipal arts councils in which we make a joint appeal for a guaranteed basic income. If there is one lesson we should learn from 2020, it’s the importance of our social safety net and taking care of one another.
I wish you all a wonderful spring!
Nathalie Maillé
Executive Director
