“Every year, this competition’s winners say the same thing: Luminothérapie is a remarkable opportunity to use the city as a creative playground, as well as being a superb showcase for their talents,” said Quartier des Spectacles Partnership chair Jacques Primeau. “The event attracts an impressive amount of both domestic and international media coverage. Some works have even been presented elsewhere. I am thinking of the Iceberg installation, created in 2012 by ATOMIC3 and Appareil architecture, which is now enjoying tremendous success in Brussels. Who will have the honour this year?”

“Today’s call for Luminothérapie proposals is an opportunity for anyone who wants to create a unique experience for thousands of Montrealers and visitors,” added Manon Gauthier, the Ville de Montréal’s executive committee member responsible for culture, heritage, design, Space for Life and the status of women. “We hope a large number of up-and-coming artists will enter this competition, which is such an extraordinary platform for our young talents. We are looking forward to seeing many daring proposals. Surprise us!”

THE COMPETITION

Proposed projects must be deeply connected to winter and inspired by the site’s uniqueness. Projects must also give visitors a meaningful, participatory, experience by day or by night, and create a festive and luminous ambiance.

In order to promote the emergence of new cultural and artistic practices, applicants are strongly encouraged to form multidisciplinary teams. Quartier des Spectacles favours projects that encourage multiple points of view, in which disciplinary boundaries are blurred by the amalgamation of the languages of design, performing arts, literature, and visual and/or media arts.

The competition has two phases. In the first, applicants submit proposals for review; submissions are anonymous in order to maintain impartiality and ensure openness to new voices. In the second phase, the finalists will give a presentation to a jury.

The total production budget for the winning project is $225,000.

How to participate

Participants must register by April 4 at noon Montreal time in order to receive the documents required for preparing their proposal. For registration forms, regulations and evaluation criteria, visit mtlunescodesign.com/en

ABOUT LUMINOTHÉRAPIE

The Luminothérapie competition, run jointly with the Ville de Montréal’s Bureau du design, is aimed at stimulating Montreal-based creativity and presenting the results to the Quartier’s winter visitors free of charge. Luminothérapie has two components: 1) Showcase and enliven Place des Festivals and 2) Design and produce video projections for nine building façades in Quartier des Spectacles. Demonstrating the event’s creative appeal, the last competition attracted 58 proposals for both components combined, as compared to 42 the previous year. In 2013-14, the competition made it possible for the public to enjoy the Entre les rangs installation by Kanva in Place des Festivals and the Trouve Bob video projection series by Champagne Club Sandwich, presented on seven building façades in Quartier des Spectacles. More information (press kit)

ABOUT QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES

Quartier des Spectacles is Montreal’s cultural heart. It boasts North America’s most concentrated and diverse group of cultural venues. The district is the year-round host to countless festivals and events, many of which include free outdoor shows and activities. The Quartier also hosts innovative urban installations involving cutting-edge lighting design, immersive environments or interactive digital spaces. Quartier des Spectacles is an international showcase for new multimedia technology, making Montreal a global leader in the urban exhibition of digital content. For more information, visit quartierdesspectacles.com.

ABOUT MONTRÉAL UNESCO CITY OF DESIGN

Montreal is part of UNESCO’s international Creative Cities Network in the Cities of Design category. The Network includes 41 cities in 23 countries. It helps creators in member cities share their experiences, while promoting the international exchange of best practices and knowledge.

The Ville de Montréal’s Bureau du design works with the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership on preparing and running this annual competition. Such competitions are among the many commitments taken on by the city and the partners in Action Plan 2007-2017 – Montreal, Cultural Metropolis, which aims to promote excellence in design and architecture while affirming Montreal’s status as a UNESCO City of Design.

Images of previous Luminothérapie works are available on our Flickr account: www.flickr.com/photos/quartierdesspectacles/sets/
Please include proper credit for any photos used.