The Imperial Cinema will have to stop its activities at the end of January if it does not receive further government aid, the institution warned on Monday afternoon.
The non-profit organization Center Cinéma Impérial has been working since 2017 to implement a renovation and restoration plan to improve and modernize its facilities and ensure their sustainability.
Now his project is at risk due to insufficient federal funding, “and without these sufficient federal funds, the theater will have to close,” explained Benoit Clermont, on behalf of the board of the Center Cinéma Impérial, in an interview with the QMI Agency on Monday.
“Since 2017, we have been applying for grants in Quebec, the city of Montreal and Ottawa. Talks in Quebec are going well, with about $5.6 million available. In the city of Montreal, discussions are also going well, while at the federal government everything has been blocked for years and our requests are not being accepted,” added Mr. Clermont.
Ottawa's requested funding for the revitalization project is the same as the province's, $5.6 million. This would allow the Imperial Cinema, on the one hand, to restore the historical elements of the building and, on the other hand, to carry out a comprehensive renovation project of the performance hall in order to expand its vocation and accommodate all artistic disciplines.
“Right now we have received a return from the federal government of $500,000 per year over two years, so $1 million over two years, which is obviously well below the expectations and needs for this space,” Mr. Clermont emphasized .
“We are at a crossroads. The space must regain its functionality, a preserved historical character, otherwise the partners, for their part, will get tired of investing sums,” he continued, emphasizing that Quebecor has been one of these important partners since 2017. The private company offered the hall $8.5 million in strategic, financial and philanthropic support.
Renovation and restoration plan
The work that the Cinema Imperial wants to carry out is considered necessary to bring the infrastructure up to date, both in terms of security and the need for technical equipment.
The Montreal institution must also modernize the places and services it offers to meet the needs of the sector, in particular by increasing the number of seats, by providing the most modern sound and lighting equipment and by improving the customer experience.
“The advantage of the Imperial is that it is located in the Quartier des Spectacles. It is already well established in Montreal's cultural community. […] We are not worried about traffic, but we have to have a space that can withstand,” Benoit Clermont continued, confident that the space will continue to thrive once the work is completed.
Remember that the heritage institution has already hosted cultural events such as Présence Autochtone, the New Cinema Festival, Cinémania and the Montreal International Documentary Meetings.
In the last five years, at least six other legendary venues, including 2 Pierrots, La Maison du Jazz (House of Jazz), Les Katacombes and Le Divan Orange, have closed their doors.