Through its Bureau de design, Montréal, a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, invites young professionals trained in a design discipline to submit applications for the 8th Phyllis Lambert Grant by October 29, 2015, at 4:30 p.m. This great distinction, awarded annually, aims to recognize and enhance the profile of emerging talents.

Created in honour of Phyllis Lambert, Founding Director Emeritus of the Canadian Centre for Architecture, the $10,000 grant is awarded to a designer or architect, or collective of designers or architects, with fewer than 10 years’ practice and having demonstrated exceptional-quality work as well as marked interest for urban life and the city of Montréal.

“The Phyllis Lambert Grant is immensely important to us, and helps shape Montréal’s identity as a UNESCO City of Design,” says Manon Gauthier, Ville de Montréal Executive Committee member responsible for Culture, Heritage, Design, Space for Life and the Status of Women. “It is proof of our dedication to supporting creative endeavours by young local designers who will become wonderful ambassadors for Montréal, helping to showcase the city’s vitality everywhere.”

Promoting the talents of designers, contributing to the future of Montréal

The grant represents a unique career opportunity for a designer or architect to take valuable time out for reflection, research and development and see a cherished creative project through, from thoroughly analyzing a particular reality to implementing solutions, whether material or immaterial, with potential to improve Montrealers’ quality of life.

The grant award will enable the recipient to conduct a professional development project involving a design theme focusing on urban issues, such as a study trip, work internship, participation in a design competition, workshop or symposium in one of the cities of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, of which Montréal is a member as a City of Design. The recipient’s name will be announced in December 2015.

As with every edition, Phyllis Lambert is delighted to be lending her name to this grant, which each year attracts major talents and contributes to the extraordinary vitality of made-in-Montréal design. “The emerging generation of designers has a crucial role to play in solving a number of today’s social, environmental, cultural and ethical problems. I therefore hope that this 2015 grant, which incidentally is based on peer recognition, will help consolidate the human-focused artistic vision of a member of the design family,” she says.

Candidates’ projects will be assessed by a jury whose members exemplify an ideal blend of youth and experience and have earned great respect within the profession. They include Manon Asselin, architect and co-founder, Atelier TAG; Francis Brisebois, industrial designer and Corporate Advisor – Wayfinding, Société de transport de Montréal; Annie Lebel, architect, Atelier In Situ; Benoît Gérard, designer and partner, Blazysgerard; and Andrew Goodhouse, writer, Canadian Centre for Architecture.

One grant, several stellar careers and a video vignette to showcase them

The list of previous recipients of the Phyllis Lambert Grant who have seen their careers take flight includes Émilie F. Grenier (2014), the artists’ collective Audiotopie (2013), Eugénie Manseau and Philippe Carreau of Studio Dikini (2012), Guillaume Sasseville of Studio SSSVLL (2011), Melissa Mongiat and Mouna Andraos of Daily tous les jours (2010), Ying Gao, professor and fashion designer (2009), and Philippe Lamarre, co-founder of multidisciplinary design studio Toxa and publisher of Urbania magazine (2008).

A video vignette made recently by the very first recipient of the Phyllis Lambert Grant, Philippe Lamarre of Studio Toxa, tells the story of these impassioned design practitioners and sheds light on their innovative approaches. The video can be seen here.

For more information about the Phyllis Lambert Grant, visit designmontreal.com.

About the Bureau du design

The mission of the Bureau du design of the Ville de Montréal is to develop the market for, and promote the talents of, Montréal-based designers and architects by advocating processes that call for public commissions, such as design and architecture competitions. The UNESCO Creative Cities Network, of which Montréal is a member as a City of Design, comprises 69 cities in 32 countries and enables creative practitioners in member cities to share experiences, best practices and knowledge on an international scale.

Photos: designmontreal.photoshelter.com (password: BOURSE)

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