In June 2022, François Legault committed to implementing the Maison de la chanson et de la musique du Québec (MCM) project in the former Saint-Sulpice library in the Latin Quarter. This has now been confirmed: a decree was signed and published in the Official Gazette last December.
The government will pump $48.5 million into the transformation of this heritage site, located at 1700 Rue Saint-Denis, owned by the Bibliothèques et archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) since 2016. The rest of the funding will be provided by the City of Montreal and the sale of the land to subsidiary Hydro-Québec. For BAnQ.
Spaces to create and practice music, as well as places to host artist residencies, school workshops and master classes, will be created over the coming months.
“It will be a place of memory, creativity, animation and multimedia distribution,” he said. Journalism Monique Giraud, creator of this project that benefits from the precious support and kindness of Luc Plamondon. We will offer visitors a dynamic scenographic tour, at the forefront of technology. »
MCM in Quebec will host permanent and thematic exhibitions, as well as numerous events related to song and music, in either an immersive room, hall or studio. “We will hold conferences, launches, seminars, interactive installations and offer targeted film screenings and music performances,” adds Monique Giroux.
The documents containing the functional and technical plan and cost assessment were submitted to the government last September. Renovation work should begin within twelve to fifteen months, once plans and specifications are completed and approved.
MCM, which will be the tenant of the building, is developing this project in partnership with the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. BAnQ collections and boxes related to song and music can then be highlighted and presented 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 consequences of its abandonment” and required urgent work.
Monique Giroux hopes that this place, which enjoys a privileged location, will, once opened, become a destination for music lovers and song lovers. “My mission has always been to build bridges between artists, their works and the public. We are making MCM in Quebec a vibrant place for artists, but also for the general public of all generations. »
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