Maritime Presence

At the end of May, the School’s Director General, Simon Brault, participated in Atlantic Cultural Space, a conference on Atlantic arts and heritage, held in Moncton, New Brunswick. The conference was an occasion to discuss and rethink strategies for these two sectors of activity. Brault made two presentations at the conference, on training and careers in the cultural sector and on cultural policies. He also moderated a round table on converting urban arts spaces. The conference was a valuable opportunity to form and solidify ties with maritime arts communities, as well as to learn about the concerns and realities of artists’ and promoters’ lives in the four Atlantic provinces.

... and a Jaunt to Toronto

Following the trip to Moncton, Simon Brault’s expertise was in demand again, this time for the 2002 Canadian Culture Research Network Colloquium on cultural development in Canadian cities, held at the University of Toronto. Basing his observations on lessons learned during the renovation of the Monument and the creation of the Journées de la culture and Culture Montreal, the School’s Director General made certain considerations regarding the implications tied to place and the responsibilities cultural institutions have within their communities. The colloquium brought together artists, researchers, coordinators and administrators from the cultural milieu.

Brault on the Ramparts

Champion of arts, defender of culture, the School’s Director General, Simon Brault, is lending his management skills and contacts to the cause of Montreal’s creative life. In addition to his role at the NTS, since February 2002 Brault has been the president of Culture Montreal, an independent, not-for-profit group that aims to promote the role of culture in all its forms in Montreal’s development as a city.

At the invitation of mayor Gérald Tremblay, Brault led the cultural delegation at the 2002 Montreal Summit in May. The summit brought together representatives from all sectors and communities of the newly formed “mega city” (now totaling a population of 1.8 million) to debate and integrate the diverse elements of the city’s strategic plan. Results from this first “task force” were promising, and the next day’s papers reported that cultural considerations were foremost at the summit.

To find out more, visit the Culture Montreal website, at www.culturemontreal.ca

Do It and Learn!

Once again this year, the School will host an Open House as part of the Journées de la culture, on Saturday, September 28^th from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The public is invited to join in the festivities and find out what goes into training theatre artists and craftspeople.

Going Once, Going Twice… Sold!

Renowned Quebecois playwright Michel Tremblay has donated a series of his paintings — painted at his house in Key West and at the country house of pianist André Gagnon — to the School. An auction of the works will be held at the Monument on October 24^th. All proceeds will go to the School’s Michel Tremblay Bursary Fund, created in 1996 by Tremblay to aid NTS students.

For more information on these events, visit the School’s Web Site at www.ent-nts.qc.ca or call 514.842.7954.

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