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Montréal,
April 28, 2008 – François Macerola will step
down as Chair of the Place des Arts Board of Directors this
Wednesday, four years after being appointed head of the public
corporation.
“During my time with Place des Arts, I have been able to
make a contribution to what I consider to be one of the essential
driving forces of cultural life and development in Montréal
and Québec,” Mr. Macerola says.
Considering that at the time of his appointment,
Montréal’s Quartier des spectacles project
was still on the drawing board, Mr. Macerola notes with great
satisfaction that the initial phase of this major work is in full
swing. He is thrilled that Place des Arts is a key player in such a
significant undertaking.
“Not only is Place des Arts strategically located within
the urban space devoted to the Quartier des spectacles,
but it is a veritable inspiration behind it, with 1,000 shows
performed last year attracting nearly a million spectators to its
five halls,” says the Chair of the Board. “The
institution has also breathed new life into the production aspect
of its mission by developing artistic series and launching
co-productions and co-presentations.”
Mr. Macerola continues: “Place des Arts is also
experiencing fantastic growth that heralds a promising future.
Major projects are about to begin inside and around Place des Arts,
including the construction of a new concert hall on the Place des
Arts site and the transformation of the Hall des pas
perdus into the Grand foyer culturel, which will
become a large indoor public space dedicated to
culture.”
During his term, Mr. Macerola also presided over creation of
the Fondation de la Place des Arts, whose mission is to support
various audience-development initiatives, carry out artistic
education projects, and raise public awareness of the performing
arts, particularly among young people and cultural
communities.
Mr. Macerola is an Executive Producer with Cirque du Soleil.
He is a well-known personality in the film and television fields,
heading Telefilm Canada and the National Film Board of Canada,
among other functions. He has conducted many studies and
contributed to the development of policies in the aforementioned
fields on behalf of the governments of Québec, Canada and
China. He has also served as an adviser to private companies in the
industry.
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Source: Denise Melillo, director
Public Relations and Development
Photo: Camirand 2005 Cirque du Soleil inc.
