In 2013, a cultural mediation department was created at FQD to further its mission of democratizing contemporary dance. Several activities were developed in close collaboration with a variety of community and cultural partners throughout the city of Montreal. Over time, FQD’s approach has been grounded in building trust between organizations, targeted populations, and artists/mediators—facilitating the transmission of expertise, broadening cultural access, creating spaces for cultural exchange, and nurturing artistic understanding among new audiences.
The year 2023 marked the 10th anniversary of FQD’s cultural mediation department. Over the past decade, the team has established a sustainable program of regular workshops that promote access to dance for a wide range of participants and help foster lasting connections between the artistic and community sectors. These include: On the move, Dancing exhibit, Lil’ dancers, and The universe of […].
In parallel, the department has also developed special projects aimed at reaching populations more on the margins of society, such as Make your words dance, designed for immigrants and/or individuals in the process of learning French, and Racines/Ohtè:ra, which supports Indigenous and non-Indigenous people living in precarious situations.
The year 2022 saw the highest number of cultural mediation activities since the department’s creation, with 152 workshops and 12 informal performances. These activities involved 25 social, community, education, and health organizations, engaged nearly 2,000 participants, and reached 19 neighborhoods across 10 boroughs of Montreal.
In 2023, to mark the 10th anniversary of cultural mediation at FQD, the team expanded its efforts even further by adding new dimensions to its work. With each new edition, FQD invites various communities to take part in inclusive, community-building activities that reflect the celebratory spirit of contemporary dance in all its forms and hybridities.
