Montreal, April 17, 2025 – In the presence of 850 guests at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, the Conseil des arts de Montréal (CAM) presented its 39th Grand Prix, which includes a $30,000 grant and a one-of-a-kind work of art to the Phénomena Festival. The Jury Award ($10,000), offered by the Caisse Desjardins de la Culture, was awarded to écH₂osystème : du fleuve à la scène. Finally, the McCord Stewart Museum won the Prix du public Télé-Québec ($10,000), voted for by 6,307 people. Each of the eight finalist arts organizations received a $5,000 grant, bringing the total awarded at the 39th Grand Prix up to $90,000.
A tribute to the creative forces of Montreal’s artistic community
Vivacious host Édith Cochrane was joined by the Conseil’s Executive Director Nathalie Maillé and President Mathieu Bouchard, as well as 850 distinguished guests from cultural, business and political circles, including Mathieu Lacombe, Quebec Minister of Culture and Communications, and Ericka Alneus, in charge of culture, heritage, gastronomy and nightlife for the City of Montreal. Vickie Zhao and Alex Ionescu, who recently donated $5 million to the Opéra de Montréal and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, were warmly applauded.
39th Grand Prix ($30,000): Phénomena Festival
The iconic Phénomena Festival, noted for its eclecticism, offers a festive yet relaxed experience. In a spirit of openness and accessibility, truly singular artistic practices intertwine, celebrating emerging talent and honoring established artists. Electrified by the show’s irreverent voices and unconventional ideas, the public is never bored and is even enticed into joining the parade. The jury was unanimous in rewarding this unifying space, where artistic freedom is always the first priority, while saluting the dedicated work of founder D. Kimm and her team. In addition to the $30,000 grant, the Grand Prix winner receives a unique work of art designed specifically for him or her, valued at $15,000.
Jury Award ($10,000): écH₂osystème : du fleuve à la scène
This acrobatic documentary show, anchored on the shores of Pointe-aux-Trembles, is a daring blend of nature and culture. With over 300 nuggets of scientific and artistic knowledge suitably and significantly brought together on the subject of the St. Lawrence River, écH₂osystème : du fleuve à la scène sends out a strong signal for understanding and enhancing of our environment. Led by the unwavering commitment of Geneviève Dupéré, this bold proposal highlights the crucial role of circus artists in providing a new perspective on the repercussions of climate change.
Prix du public Télé-Québec ($10,000): McCord Stewart Museum
This century-old institution clearly makes the hearts of our 6,307 voters beat faster! After more than one hundred years of activity, this hotbed of Montreal memory has breathed new life into its curatorship to better reflect the many faces that shape the city’s artistic landscape. Both coherent and agile, the museum inspires artists to retrace history in a genuine commitment to sustainable development and reconciliation.
Jury and selection criteria
The jury responsible for selecting the winners of the 39th Grand Prix and Jury Award was chaired by Mathieu Bouchard, President of CAM and Vice-President, Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs at Deep Sky, and included Jessica Bouchard, Vice-President, Public and Economic Affairs and Impact Initiatives at the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal; Ellen Gabriel, activist, Mohawk artist and winner of CAM’s 38th Grand Prix; Phoebe Greenberg, President of the PHI Centre; and Manuel Mathieu, visual artist.
The criteria guiding the jury in determining the winner of the 39th Grand Prix were the following: the innovation, uniqueness and authenticity of the artistic approach; the will to take action and the desire to have an impact on the community; as well as the originality and relevance of strategies aimed to reach audiences in Montréal or to mobilize the target community.
The jury was charged with selecting the winning artists and organizations from the eight finalists nominated for their artistic contribution in 2024: Bouge de là, écH₂osystème: du fleuve à la scène, Fanfare Pourpour, Festival international de la littérature (FIL), Phénomena Festival, McCord Stewart Museum, Théâtre Desjardins (LaSalle) and Théâtre Prospero.
Valuable and essential contributions
The Conseil would like to thank its major partners, whose significant support makes the Grand Prix a flagship event on the Montréal art scene: Télé-Québec, Desjardins Caisse de la Culture, La Presse, and creative partner Leeroy.
We would also like to thank our patrons and donors who support the finalists and the event: Power Corporation of Canada, Anonymous, Bell, Groupe Hypertec, Tourisme Montréal and YUL, Aéroport international de Montréal-Trudeau, as well as our arts partners: Business Development Bank of Canada, Bank of Montréal, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin, Nucléus Stratégie, Caisse Desjardins de la Culture, Conseil des relations internationales de Montréal (CORIM), Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, Azrieli Foundation, KPMG + Davies, Loto-Québec, McCarthy Tétrault, Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) + Télé-Québec and Therrien Couture Joli-Coeur.
About the Conseil des arts de Montréal (CAM)
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’s artists, producers and presenters. Since 1956, the Conseil has played a unique role as a catalyst for this artistic ecosystem, helping make Montréal one of the world’s great cultural metropolises.
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