François Legault committed in June 2022 to the implementation of the Maison de la chanson et de la musique du Québec (MCM) project in the former Saint-Sulpice library in the Latin Quarter. The matter is now confirmed: last December a decree was signed and published in the Official Journal.
Published at 6:15 p.m.
The government will invest 48.5 million euros in the transformation of this heritage site, located at 1700 rue Saint-Denis and owned by the Bibliothèques et archives nationaux du Québec (BAnQ) since 2016. The remainder of the financing will be provided by the City of Montreal and the sale of BAnQ land to Hydro-Québec.
In the coming months, spaces for creating and practicing music, as well as places for artist residencies, school workshops and master classes, will be set up.
“It will be a place of memory, creation, animation and multimedia dissemination,” Monique Giroux, initiator of this project, which benefits from the valuable support and kindness of Luc Plamondon, told La Presse. We offer visitors a dynamic, state-of-the-art scenographic tour. »
The MCM of Quebec will host permanent and thematic exhibitions as well as various events related to singing and music, either in an immersive space, an auditorium or a studio. “We will host conferences, presentations, symposiums and interactive installations, offer film screenings and targeted musical performances,” adds Monique Giroux.
The documents with the functional and technical plan as well as the cost estimate were presented to the government last September. Remediation work should begin within twelve to fifteen months after plans and specifications are completed and approved.
The MCM, which will be the tenant of the premises, is developing this project in collaboration with the Bibliothèque et Archives nationaux du Québec. The BAnQ's song and music-related collections and holdings can be highlighted and offered to researchers and experts for advice.
The renovation of this building, built in 1914, will undoubtedly reassure those who defend the heritage. In March 2021, La Presse reported that the Saint-Sulpice library had “suffered the consequences of its abandonment” and needed urgent work.
Monique Giroux hopes that this place, which enjoys a privileged location, will become the meeting point of music lovers and song lovers from its opening. “My mission has always been to build bridges between artists, their works and the public. We make the MCM of Quebec a lively place, for artists but also for the general public of all generations. »