What is it for?

We contribute dreams and authenticity

We present, in warm and welcoming rooms, artists who want to communicate their poetry and their searching in an authentic way to curious and willing audiences. We ask our artists to engage with the public — to be genuine in their desire to reach out to them, and our audiences reward us with close attention and enormous openness.

We encourage the public to integrate poetry into their lives

Audiences are moved by our dynamic celebration of poetry. Our events take the form of no-holds-barred cabarets hosted by a saucy and colourful personality who lets each performer bring his or her universe to the stage with the help of our musicians. We assign enormous importance to innovation and creativity and for the most part, our programs feature original work. Our shows delight and move audiences, making them want to continue the celebration, to discover, read, write and express things for themselves.

We hold regular “open mic” events where anyone is invited to come and read their work, backed up by our professional musicians. We are very accessible, and people spontaneously call us: we act as intermediaries between artist and audience. We also organize creative writing events and workshops with musicians, for municipal arts events, schools and community groups.

We provide tools and opportunities to help young artists become known

We know by experience that creating a solid future for the next generation takes real effort. Throughout the year, we make a point of visiting the places where new practices are emerging, looking for new voices and new talent. The open mics and Night Shift cabarets we organize for the Festival Voix d’Amériques allow emerging artists to acquire stage experience. FVA mainstage events, meanwhile, put young artists on stage with performers who are already well established.

We act as mentors for some of these young artists, helping them move into the profession by preparing portfolios and introducing them to producers and different performance spaces and festivals. Our website features biographies and photos of some one hundred young artists, and our database holds contact information on everyone in the community. Our organization is the Canadian clearing house for information on young poets and spoken word artists.

We create a platform for different voices

The rhythms and sounds of Montreal’s many languages and accents are part of its cultural landscape. They comprise a vibrant richness we feature in all our activities. Our events are bilingual, which gives different communities a rare chance to rub shoulders in a warm and celebratory atmosphere. Firmly rooted in the diversity of today’s Montreal, we know it is crucial to include artists from other backgrounds, performing in French and English but also in other first languages, such as Spanish, Aboriginal languages, and Creole.