In 2013, a cultural mediation department was established at the Festival to further its mission of democratizing contemporary dance. Since then, numerous activities have been developed in close collaboration with various community and cultural partners across the city of Montreal. Over time, the FQD’s approach has been built on relationships of trust between organizations, target populations, and artists/mediators, facilitating the sharing of expertise, democratizing culture, creating spaces for cultural exchange, and developing artistic knowledge for new audiences.
In 13 years, the FQD cultural mediation team has established a sustainable offering of regular workshops, reaching a diverse population through dance: On The Move, Dancing exhibit, Lil’ Dancers and The Universe Of […]. Simultaneously, the department develops special projects targeting marginalized populations, such as Make your words dance, designed for immigrants and/or those in the process of learning French, and Racines/Ohtè:ra, which reaches out to Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in situations of high precariousness.
While 2022 marked a significant milestone with 152 workshops and 12 informal performances reaching nearly 2,000 participants across 19 neighborhoods, the department’s impact has only continued to grow. In 2023, celebrating 10 years of cultural mediation, the team expanded its reach even further. During the 21st edition, the FQD supported multiple communities in diving into unifying and inclusive activities that echoed the celebration of contemporary dance in all its forms and hybridities.
Making dance accessible everywhere, differently, and to everyone, while connecting artists with diverse audiences, is at the heart of the FQD’s expertise. This commitment was reaffirmed in 2025 during the 23rd edition, reaching over 2,675 participants through both the festival and 150 year-round activities deployed in partnership with community organizations.
