The Spring-Summer 2016 season has officially begun in the Quartier des Spectacles! Once again this year, the Quartier will host a multitude of original activities for every age and taste. In addition to more than 20 festivals being presented for Montrealers and visitors from now until mid-September, the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership is also producing an engaging arts and culture program, including interactive works, throughout the square kilometre occupied by the Quartier, the city’s cultural heart.

Maëstro – until May 26

Everyone is invited to (re)discover Maëstro, an interactive installation by ATOMIC3, in which would-be conductors are invited to control Canada’s largest fountain, in the Place des Festivals. Participants pick up a special baton fitted with sensors and stand at the podium, which is equipped with a camera that captures the amplitude of the conductor’s movements. The data are transmitted in real time, affecting the volume of the music and the intensity of the fountain’s 235 water jets. A musical and visual experience for all.

Maestros have their pick of four classical pieces: “The Toreador Song,” Carmen Suite no. 1 by Bizet, the “Waltz of the Flowers,” op. 1 from The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 5 in C minor, op. 67 by Beethoven, and Can-Can by Offenbach.

560 KM – until May 29

Since the beginning of the month, a large-scale art installation has spectacularly transformed the pedestrian zone on Sainte-Catherine Street in the Quartier des Spectacles. 560 KM comprises a thousand raw timber logs scattered throughout the zone between De Bleury and Clark streets. The installation is a metaphor for river driving, the 19^th century method of floating logs down Quebec’s rivers.

Conceived and produced by KANVA, the installation is an original approach to enlivening Sainte-Catherine St. in the run-up to festival season. It’s impossible to resist the urge to touch this monumental work, which provides a unique form of contact with nature in the heart of downtown.

Les Jardins Gamelin – until October 2

A big, green, welcoming space in the heart of downtown, Les Jardins Gamelin is an original temporary setup consisting of flexible installations and a rich program of cultural and citizen-focused activities. Now in its second year, Les Jardins will satisfy everyone who loves culture, pleasure and relaxation. This summer version of the park includes an illuminated canopy, small round stage, snack bar located in a repurposed shipping container, and inviting patio surrounded by a large lawn and lush vegetation. In the evening, the Jardins will enchant visitors with the floating sculpture 1.26 by Janet Echelman, the illuminated sculpture by Melvin Charney and a variety of video projections on the façade of Place Dupuis.

The Jardins will host a wide variety of activities and performances seven days a week, day and night. Family Sundays, the Miss DJ series of sets by women DJs, karaoke afternoons and Salsa nights: this is just a small sampling of the free activities on the program. There will also be several major events and festivals, including Piknic Électronik, Montréal Complètement Cirque and Fierté Montréal Pride. The Jardins Gamelin initiative is produced in collaboration with Pépinière & co, Sentier urbain and many other partners, with the support of the borough of Ville-Marie.

Festival season is here – until the end of summer

A wealth of outdoor stages, artists and activities everywhere and, above all, shows and concerts for every taste! The Quartier des Spectacles is a giant open-air theatre, attracting hundreds of thousands of festivalgoers come to see the best of dance, theatre, music, comedy and circus arts.

Spectacular festivals that will fill you with delight and wonderment: 

• Festival TransAmériques, from May 26 to June 8
• OFFTA, from May 30 to June 8
• Mutek, from June 1 to 5
• Francofolies de Montréal, from June 9 to 18
• Montreal International Jazz Festival, from June 29 to July 9
• Montréal complètement cirque, from July 7 to 17
• Zoofest, from July 7 to 30
• Festival international Nuits d’Afrique, from July 12 to 24 
• Fantasia, from July 14 to August 2
• Just for Laughs, from July 13 to August 1
• Juste pour rire, July 16 to 30
• Présence autochtone, from August 2 to 9
• Festival Mode & Design, from August 15 to 20

ABOUT THE QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES AND THE PARTNERSHIP

The Quartier des Spectacles is Montreal’s cultural heart, boasting North America’s most concentrated and diverse group of cultural venues. The district is the year-round host to countless festivals and events, and presents innovative urban installations involving cutting-edge lighting design, immersive environments or interactive digital spaces. The Quartier des Spectacles is an international showcase for new multimedia technology, making Montreal a global leader in the urban exhibition of digital content.

The Quartier des Spectacles Partnership is a non-profit organization that produces activities and cultural presentations for the public spaces of the Quartier des Spectacles, illuminates the Quartier, and promotes the district as an essential cultural destination. The Partnership is a member of several international networks including the Connecting Cities Network, Lighting Urban Community International (LUCI), and the Global Cultural Districts Network.