For its 40th anniversary, the Festival is expanding in the city and announces a new site in Verdun

MONTRÉAL, March 27, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, presented by TD Bank Group in collaboration with Rio Tinto, is proud to unveil its new site in Verdun!

Last spring, the festival announced an ambitious development plan that will allow it to increase its presence across the territory and to meet citizens where they live. In relation with the new Cultural Policy of the City of Montréal and the new Tourisme Montréal Development Strategy, the Festival will promote the discovery of the cultural wealth of the various neighbourhoods of the city by anchoring itself in several of them. Thus, in addition to continuing to occupy its central site in the Quartier des Spectacles with large-scale gatherings, indoor shows and family activities, the global Festival will reach a local public thanks to the creation of new festival hubs.

Following a "request for interest", the evaluation of particularly stimulating applications, as well as many discussions and meetings, the choice of Verdun was obvious for the Festival. Starting in 2019, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal will also take place in the Verdun borough!

"I'm very proud that our project created so much interest. We received applications from 15 boroughs. Every proposal was very interesting and original. As such, we have inspiration for many years to come. But for the first iteration of the concept, we chose Verdun because of the dynamism of that borough and its population, the SDC Promenade Wellington and the merchants of the sector. We'll be able to count on solid partnerships, and their financial participation in the project shows the potential of the concept. Wellington Street reminds us of the years of the Festival on St-Denis Street. We're happy and proud that the Festival will continue its development in the service of our beautiful city." Jacques-André Dupont, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

The new site will host original experiences created especially for the borough and the communities that live there, in collaboration with community organizations, merchants and citizens. It will be accessible for free and will offer the same artistic quality as the rest of the Festival, in addition to respecting sustainable development and eco-responsibility principles.

By further reaching communities and inviting Montrealers and tourists to visit a neighbourhood with which they are less familiar, the new site will foster citizen meetings and generate new benefits for the borough, in a spirit of inclusion and integration.

Of course, the free programming wouldn't be possible without the commitment of our major sponsors, particularly TD Bank Group, Rio Tinto and Casino de Montréal, as well as the Government of Quebec, the City of Montréal, Tourisme Montréal, the Verdun Borough and the SDC Promenade Wellington.

"After 40 years of contributing significantly to Montréal's cultural dynamism, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is reinventing itself this year. By deploying in the Verdun Borough, it is increasing local culture. The Gouvernement du Québec salutes the vision of the Festival's organizers who, by this initiative, are contributing to the development of tourist districts outside the Quartier des spectacles, thus enhancing the tourist experience while generating economic impacts for the metropolis." Chantal Rouleau, Minister for Transport and Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montréal Region, Nathalie Roy, Minister of Culture and Communications and Minister Responsible for the French Language, and Caroline Proulx, Minister of Tourism

"I am thrilled to see the first local jazz event take place on Rue Wellington, in Verdun. This new initiative by the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is in line with our efforts to make our neighbourhoods as lively and dynamic as possible. What better way to accomplish this than through music." Valérie Plante, Mayor of the City of Montréal

"For a number of years now, Verdun has been investing in culture to define itself and forge its identity. We promote expression in all its forms, by creating quality events at unique and magical places, such as the Quai 5160 - Maison de la culture de Verdun, the Verdun Auditorium, the waterfront and also on the street, where people go out and gather naturally. That is why we are very proud of this partnership which provides us with an opportunity to host the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal. It is not only recognition of the collective efforts that have been made to develop culture in Verdun, but also a springboard for the Festival, which gets closer to the neighbourhoods!", noted Verdun Mayor Jean-François Parenteau, who is also a member of the Executive Committee.

"We're honoured to be part of this iconic Montreal festival. This is a wonderful recognition of the work done locally in recent years. In my view, this is the outcome of the continuous and positive collaboration between the Borough of Verdun and SDC Wellington."
Billy Walsh, Executive Director - SDC Wellington

"Tourisme Montréal is very proud to be participating in the Jazz Hub project, which we believe holds a lot of promise for our destination. We hope it will encourage tourists to venture into the city's different neighbourhoods, explore our diverse arts and culture scene, and come away with a truly authentic Montréal experience. This initiative supports our strategic vision to promote tourism in neighbourhoods across the city. It's also a concrete example of how tourism can benefit the entire community," said Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal.Yves Lalumière, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tourisme Montréal

The programming and detailed concept will be unveiled in the spring.

The 40th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal will take place from June 27 to July 6, 2019.

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SOURCE Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

Source: Festival International de Jazz de Montréal - 514 523-3378; Information (media): Philip Vanden Brande, Senior Manager, Public Relations and Media Relations - 514 925-2005; [email protected]; Information (public): Info-Jazz La Presse+ --  514 871-1881 or toll-free 1 85JAZZFEST; montrealjazzfest.com