Congratulations to the finalists of the new eco-responsibility award!

The Festival des arts de ruelle is a non-profit organization that offers a cultural program from late August to mid-September each year featuring several innovative artistic shows performed in Montréal’s alleys, reaching approximately 15,000 people. 

It is rooted in a desire to bring people together with a focus on citizen proximity, decentralizing the artistic offering and bringing it to the various neighbourhoods of the city. The organization’s artistic approach is based on two fundamental pillars: accessibility and interaction. By transforming alleys into ephemeral art scenes, the organization makes art more accessible and dispels the myth that culture is strictly for the elite. Anchored in the working-class neighbourhoods of Montréal, the Festival is a driving force for urban revitalization and the strengthening of social ties. By taking over the alleys, the FAR breathes life into often-neglected spaces, creating points for meeting and exchange. 

Overview of environmental actions  

The FAR is firmly committed to an environmental approach focused on responsible consumption practices. The FAR is taking several initiatives to increase its positive impacts on sustainable development.  

• Local and eco-responsible choices in the selection of suppliers, materials and partnerships, which benefit the local economy and reduce transport-related emissions

• Since its inception in 2017, the organization has had a strict ban on single-use plastics within the festival
• Creation of a Green Brigade composed of volunteers dedicated to sorting waste, promoting the use of collection bins and raising environmental awareness among the public, artists and partners
• During the event, a community and civic compost collection is organized, enabling organic waste to be recovered and the carbon footprint to be reduced
• The scenography of the events uses transformed and repurposed materials and banners, thus reducing the impact on natural resources 
• Uneaten food is redistributed to local organizations, reducing food waste and helping to combat food insecurity
• Data is stored in the cloud to avoid unnecessary downloads, minimizing their digital footprint and energy consumption
• The alleys that hosted the FAR saw many eco-responsible projects emerge, such as green alleys, the distribution of organic  food baskets, the raising of animals and the establishment of beehives, thus reinforcing the positive impact on the community and the environment

In conclusion, the Festival des arts de ruelle is much more than a street arts festival, it is a unifying event that creates connections between Montrealers. Its passage through the streets creates significant civic engagement and social cohesion while stimulating solidarity, mutual assistance and sharing that reach beyond its events. 

Les productions Porte Parole (J’aime Hydro, Rose et la machine, Projet Polytechnique, etc.) is a documentary theatre company whose mission is to create live documentary performances aimed at fostering citizen engagement and opening a dialogue on various social topics. Over the past year, Porte Parole has radically changed its practices to become resolutely eco-responsible.  

Overview of organizational practices 

• Creation of a coordination position for responsible projects, tasked with evaluating the social and ecological impact of all their initiatives
• 100% responsible management of all their activities 
• Artistic orientations deeply rooted in a holistic ecological vision
• Team and stakeholder involvement
• Collaborations with local, eco-responsible subcontractors with high social impact
• Implementation of a strict and detailed partnership policy
• Implementation of a collaborative, ambitious and effective action plan

Overview of touring practices

• Modifying inventory choices to fill only one truck despite the size of the work and optimizing bookings with presenters to reduce mileage.
• Vegetarian and local supplies and consumption.
• Offsetting greenhouse gas emissions with local organizations.

First 100% eco-friendly creation

Projet Polytechnique, a documentary about the femicides of December 6,1989, was their first 100% eco-responsible creation. 

New project: The Assembly_Energy in Canada 

A theatrical concept of polarization, reinvented around the issue of climate emergency and energy policy, The Assembly_Energy in Canada has been touring the country since last February. Three new formats were developed to decarbonize the project while reaching the public outside of theatres to increase its impact.  

Through its various actions, Porte Parole now wishes to position itself as a leader in eco-responsibility and citizen engagement via its documentary shows. The company hopes to have a transformative impact on its community by promoting curiosity, creativity and critical thinking, while fostering direct contact between citizens, all of which are key to maintaining a diverse and engaged public. 

Marguerite à bicyclette is an extraordinary circus company made up of three passionate and environmentally conscious artists who have decided tour locally. The whole initiative is based on having a limited environmental impact. Driven by eco-responsibility, they have reinvented circus tours thanks to their eco-designed sets and means of transport. In fact, everything is designed to complete their tours without producing any CO2. They travel by bike with eco-designed trailers adapted to their needs. 

Environmental overview 

• Applying the principles of eco-responsibility in internal management and activities, particularly in supplier selection, zero waste, as well as by compensating for environmental impacts. 
• Prioritizing cycling and “green” travel whenever possible, whether during research and creation periods or during regional tours. 
• Promoting eco-design by recovering used materials through various means such as via the organization Ecoscéno or using second-hand goods platforms such as Kijiji and Marketplace for its productions, while taking the time to fully engage in these practices.  

Overview of social component   

• Promoting gender equality and respect for equity, diversity and social justice. 
• Encouraging the pooling of physical and material resources (loans, bulk purchases, etc.) and facilitating collaborative work. 
• Contributing to the development, dissemination and application of cultural and sustainable development knowledge and participating in various working committees on many groups. 

The actions undertaken in 2023 enabled Marguerite à bicyclette to have a simultaneous presence in Montréal and in the regions. The summer season saw La crinoline aux chapeaux travel 750 km along the bike paths of Montréal and its surroundings, while Vélo’Delà and L’infini hit the roads in the north as far as Maniwaki. The two artists in the latter show demonstrated great bravery by cycling 750 km in 17 days, pushing the boundaries to take Marguerite à bicyclette into unknown municipalities.  

The Marguerite à bicyclette company reinvents methods of disseminating culture that are hyper local and in tune with the environment, thus creating a real connection with its audiences. It is the only company in North America to offer such tours, committing, before, during and after its shows to engage in green practices and educate its peers, audiences and presenters to redefine the way we consume culture. 

For more information on the Vivats Award – Boldness in Art, visit the Vivats Award – Boldness in Art page.