Past Projects

2018:

In 2015/2016, ELAN conducted a research project at the request of the Canada Council for the Arts to identify the needs of tour-ready English-speaking artists in Quebec. The result was the creation of ELAN’s Savvy Sessions (workshops for performing artists) and producing showcases for tour-ready artists.
- The Performing Arts Market Access Showcases project was managed by Emilia Alvarez and Mariam Assaf.
Performing Arts Market Access Showcase project led to national and international festival showcases at Pop Montreal, Fierce Festival (Birmingham, UK), Northside Festival (Brooklyn, NY), with the support of FACTOR: Halifax Pop Explosion Festival, and CINARS.
- Catalogue of performing artists in Quebec
The Performing Arts Market Access Savvy Sessions were free professional development workshops forPerforming Artists aimed at enhancing the skills needed to successfully navigate a career in the arts. With a focus on Dance, Music, and Theatre, these workshopswere open to all performing artists.
The Performing Arts Market Access Savvy Sessions project was managed by June Park.
The Savvy Sessions project produced over 2 dozen workshops led by talented and experienced workshop leaders.
- Past workshops and workshop leaders.

Arts Alive! Québec ran for four consecutive years from 2014 - 2018 in six Quebec regions: Hudson, Huntingdon, Knowlton, Quebec City, Wakefield and several Montréal Libraries.
- Arts Alive! Québec was managed by project manager Anne Clark.
- Arts Alive! Québec’s Communication’s Assistant was Krista Muir.
In these six regions, English-speaking arts communities came together to create exciting festivals featuring a plethora of Quebec arts and culture.
- Click here to see 2018’s programming.

Made au Québec aimed to bring together two linguistic solitudes (ENG/FRE) by following media coverage of their arts scenes.
This project was a result of the English-speaking arts community becoming increasingly visible in Québec, with major international recognition for such artists as: Arcade Fire, Louise Penny, and Jay Baruchel.
Aimed to provide a flexible understanding of language in Québec. Many artists speak, create, play, write, work, and live in several languages.
Made au Québec was developed with the financial support of the Government of Canada.

ELAN’s Visiting Curators Series sought to create links between Québec artists and cultural centres outside Québec, to increase career opportunities and market awareness.
Three visiting curators: Emelie Chhangur (Toronto), Alex Fialho (NYC), and Larry Ossei-Mensah (NYC) viewed the work of 12 artists based in Montreal and West Québec
On October, 2017 at the Parisian Laundry, the three participating curators presented strategies for artists on exhibiting their works; art markets observations; and some tips from their own curatorial practices.
Funded by the Canada Council for the Arts
Resources:
- Visiting Curator Bios

Sought effective ways to support market access for English-speaking artists in Quebec
110 in-depth interviews were conducted with performers, and with arts producers, managers, and agents in the fields of dance, theatre, and music
Career goals and aspirations, barriers and opportunities, and gaps in professional knowledge were identified
Phase 2 of this work will be a 2-year implementation project (2016-18).
Funded by the Canada Council for the Arts
Resources:
- Final report

Follow-up to our successful 2015 edition (see below) brought four curators from New York City to tour 16 Quebec artists’ studios
Eastern Townships studios added to the tour itinerary for the first time
Panel discussion and reception hosted at the Phi Centre attracted 90 attendees
Funded by the Canada Council for the Arts
Resources:
- Panel discussion summary

Hands-on workshops delivered concrete tips and practical examples to familiarize artists with the process of developing and delivering successful grant applications
Montreal workshops included specific content for culturally diverse artists
90+ artists in the regions and in Montreal benefited
Participants rated the workshop 9/10 on average
Funded by the Canada Council for the Arts
Resources:

Three US gallerists were brought to Montreal during Nuit Blanche to visit artists’ studios
A public panel discussion and networking event allowed 70+ interested artists to meet the gallerists and ask individual questions
Funded by the Canada Council for the Arts
Resources:
- Panel discussion summary

Fostered province-wide connections between practitioners in these four sectors
Discussion groups with major organizations and with CHSSN (Community Health and Social Services Network) members produced a list of 12 of the most important issues among youth in various Quebec communities
Examples of successful projects and best practices were shared in an online directory accessible to remote communities
Funded by the Government of Canada
Resources:

Created to help Quebec’s English-language artists and arts organizations adapt to the shift towards digital media and reduction in arts coverage, with the goal of pooling community efforts and determining pragmatic next steps
226 artists/arts organizations, journalists, and publicists answered online surveys
20 artists/arts organizations, journalists, and publicists participated in focus groups
Funded by the Canada Council for the Arts
Resources:

Established strong connections between artists looking for new audiences, and communities (presenters and educators) hoping to host artists
26 events were facilitated throughout Quebec with the participation of more than 70 artists
ACCORD’s online databases of artists, presenters, and educators facilitated ongoing collaborations
Online tool kits compiled helpful information about touring and presenting
Funded by the Government of Canada and developed in partnership with QDF and QCGN
Resources:

154 artist profiles, 24 videos, and 6 essays increased access to the cultural wealth of Quebec’s English-speaking community and broke down stubborn stereotypes about English-speaking artists in Quebec
Essays were compiled into a book published by Guernica Editions, Minority Report: An Alternative History of English-Language Arts in Quebec (2011)
Captured, recorded, and distributed important stories and community knowledge which had only circulated anecdotally
Positive response, launch attended by 180 guests, and plentiful media coverage
Funded by the Government of Canada
Resources:

Two-day summit of 100 community leaders from several regions of Quebec, plus funders from three levels of government
Objectives: Evaluate causes of growth in the community, identify opportunities and challenges, bring together new partners and resources, raise the profile of English-speaking artists
ELAN’s role as artistic community catalyst was affirmed, but participants also recognized their own need to participate in creating strategies and developing projects
ELAN’s Minority Report book was launched, putting names, faces and accomplishments to a new generation of artists as a major force in Quebec culture
Two panel discussions on the future of English-language artists were funded by the Conseil des arts de Montréal
Funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Canada, and Telefilm .
Resources: