On the sidelines of the electoral debate organized by Culture Montréal, Lorraine Pintal, Ensemble Montréal’s spokesperson for culture, unveiled new commitments aimed at expanding access to culture in every neighbourhood of the city.
As the francophone metropolis of North America, Montréal holds immense cultural potential, richness, and diversity within each of its boroughs — potential that has been largely underutilized under the current administration.
To make culture more accessible to Montrealers, Ensemble Montréal’s mission is to celebrate and strengthen it by embracing the very charm and identity of our city — the festivals, events, and cultural activities that bring life to our streets and communities.
A Cultural Investment Plan for Montréal
An Ensemble Montréal administration, led by Soraya Martinez Ferrada, commits to investing $3 million to expand access to culture across all Montréal boroughs through the following measures:
- Support the growth of festivals and neighbourhood celebrations, in collaboration with cultural tables and business development corporations (SDCs), through an annual fund of $1.5 million.
- Encourage the presence of festivals in outlying boroughs to strengthen accessibility and visibility, with an annual allocation of $750,000.
- Assist boroughs and SDCs in promoting and expanding cultural recreation through an annual envelope of $500,000.
- Foster partnerships between Maisons de la culture and non-profit organizations by providing financial support covering up to 25% of project costs, to a maximum of $10,000 per project, within a $250,000 fund.
- Simplify the permit process for festival and neighbourhood event organizers, promote equipment sharing, and encourage boroughs to showcase these events to residents and visitors alike.
Funds will be distributed through calls for projects, following a streamlined application process.
Quotes
“Culture is at the heart of Montréal’s identity, and that’s why we must be ambitious in promoting it here and beyond. The cultural potential of our neighbourhoods must be recognized and supported to make it a true engine of development for all Montrealers.”
— Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Candidate for Mayor of Montréal and Leader of Ensemble Montréal
“By investing significant resources to support festivals, neighbourhood celebrations, and cultural recreation, Ensemble Montréal aims to make culture shine in every corner of our metropolis. Because culture should never be a privilege — it should be a right, accessible to every Montrealer.”
— Lorraine Pintal, Ensemble Montréal Spokesperson for Culture and Candidate for City Councillor in Vieux-Rosemont
