François Legault committed in June 2022 to carrying out the Maison de la chanson et de la musique du Québec (MCM) project in the former Saint-Sulpice library in the Latin Quarter. The thing is now confirmed: a decree was signed and published in the Official Gazette last December.
The government will inject 48.5 million into the transformation of this heritage site, located at 1700, rue Saint-Denis, owned by Bibliothèques et archives nationaux du Québec (BAnQ) since 2016. The rest of the financing will be provided by the City of Montreal and the sale to Hydro-Québec of land belonging to BAnQ.
Spaces for creating and practicing music, but also places for hosting artist residencies, school workshops and master classes will be set up over the coming months.
“It will be a place of memory, creation, animation and multimedia distribution,” Monique Giroux, instigator of this project which benefits from the precious support and kindness of Luc Plamondon, told La Presse. We will offer visitors a dynamic scenographic tour, at the cutting edge of technology. »
The MCM of Quebec will host permanent and thematic exhibitions, as well as various events related to song and music, either in an immersive room, an auditorium or a studio. “We will hold conferences, launches, symposiums, interactive installations, offer film screenings and targeted musical performances,” adds Monique Giroux.
The documents containing the functional and technical plan and the cost evaluation were submitted to the government last September. The renovation work should begin within twelve to fifteen months, once the plans and specifications have been completed and approved.
The MCM, which will be the tenant of the premises, is developing this project in partnership with the Bibliothèque et Archives nationaux du Québec. BAnQ’s collections and funds related to song and music can thus be highlighted and offered to researchers and specialists for consultation purposes.
The renovation of this building built in 1914 will undoubtedly reassure those who defend heritage. In March 2021, La Presse reported that the Saint-Sulpice library had suffered “the repercussions of its abandonment” and required urgent work.
Monique Giroux hopes that as soon as it opens, this place which enjoys a privileged location will become the haunt of music lovers and song lovers. “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. »
