Over 400 young artists gathered together to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Concordia University’s Department of Fine Arts during the Art Matters Festival. Not only did the event offer a major protean group exhibition, it also allowed the students in charge of the project to develop their organizational skills. Taking place at 17 locations on campus and elsewhere in Montreal, Art Matters, conceived in September 2000, far exceeded the students’ expectations by attracting numerous media representatives and achieving a very high level of attendance for some of the activities. It was an educational experience at all levels as the group not only developed an extensive funding strategy but was also closely involved in all the steps of the complex production. The fact that some of the activities are still in operation promises a long life for Art Matters.
For more information >>>

The work was an unexpected one coming from a group of students who were mostly from fields related to medicine. It was a 60-minute musical and psychological drama produced by people who had no film experience who had met at the Université de Montréal thanks to future producer Nguyen Bakhoa, a student in Dentistry. The group then spent four years perfecting this courageous film which examines many of today’s social taboos and discontents. Suicide, identity, audacity and survival are some of the issues that have been dealt with. Until now, over 120 people have collaborated on this short film, the initial idea of which was based on Dominik Joseph’s novel Guerre froide. The finished project, supported by the Université de Montréal’s student association, was seen by hundreds of people at pre-screenings in January and February and the team is currently working on the final version as well as studying different broadcasting possibilities.
For more information >>>

Art studies sometimes lead to years of solitary improvement or inclusion in specialized fields, yet they can also be a part of community practice where everyday life is a crucial element in the process. Jade Bérubé attempted to do this by combining her theatrical studies at the Université du Québec à Montréal with the setting up of L’Art à rat, an interdisciplinary creative centre which has made a mark in Montreal. In 1999, Jade Bérubé applied to the City of Montreal to use the Saint-Louis arena to install a summer workshop for artistic exploration. A continuous series of meetings then ensued between artists at all levels in the fields of theatre, music, literature and visual arts. In 2000, L’Art à rat began its second season as a space for rehearsal, performance and learning and now encompasses international partnerships with similar ventures, notably in South Africa and France.
For more information >>>