FALLA Celebrates Artistic Expression and Diversity
(Montréal, June 21, 2017) TOHU is pleased to announce its partnership with the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, which will be one of TOHU’s social partners, in particular, through its local employability initiative and as a collaborator of the FALLA (pronounced faya) event. Firmly rooted in Montréal’s Saint-Michel neighbourhood, this partnership will be extremely beneficial for the community.
TOHU has always been a gathering place for the neighbourhood’s residents and a springboard for its youth as the organization has a local hiring policy. Since 2004, TOHU has staged 460 free shows and events for the community and over 500 Saint-Michel residents have benefited from the local employability program. TOHU offers 350 hours a year of personalized coaching to members of the community.
FALLA plays an especially important role in the community. Multigenerational cultural mediation takes place throughout the year on a theme defined together with neighbourhood organizations. In the spring, supported by experienced artists, a group of 6 to 8 youths work under professional conditions to build a giant structure, and in the process, develop skills and know-how.
The structure is set on fire in August, after three days of celebrations to the sound of music from all over the world, showcasing neighbourhood artists and groups reflecting Montréal’s diversity. The process involves as many as 10,000 individuals and dozens of cultural and insertion organizations as well as the neighbourhood police. Inspired by Spanish traditions, FALLA has been sponsored since 2016 by the Canadian Commission for Unesco.”
Quotes
“The Fonds has been headquartered in the North-End of Montréal for 25 years. It is therefore only natural for us to partner with TOHU, which contributes every day to the area’s community, cultural and economic development. This new partnership will allow the Fonds to contribute to the employability aspect of employment.”
Gaétan Morin, President and Chief Executive Officer, Fonds de solidarité FTQ
“We’re very proud to be able to count on the support of the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, a team that believes in developing communities. This collaboration will allow us to continue our culture-based sustainable development efforts in one of the most vulnerable neighbourhoods in Canada.”
Stéphane Lavoie, *Executive and Programming Director, TOHU
About the Fonds de solidarité FTQ
The Fonds de solidarité FTQ is a capital development fund that channels the savings of Quebecers into investments. With $12.2 billion in net assets as at November 30, 2016, the Fonds has helped create and maintain over 187,000 jobs. The Fonds has more than 2,600 partner companies and upwards of 618,000 shareholder-savers. www.fondsftq.com
About TOHU
Located in the heart of the Cité des arts du cirque, TOHU is THE North American centre for performance, creativity, experimentation and convergence of culture, the environment and community involvement. An example of sustainable development through culture, TOHU has helped position Montréal as the international capital of circus arts. TOHU.ca
TOHU IS FINANCED IN PART BY THE GOVERNMENT OF QUÉBEC, THE CONSEIL DES ARTS ET DES LETTRES DU QUÉBEC, THE MINISTÈRE DE LA CULTURE ET DES COMMUNICATIONS DU QUÉBEC, THE CITY OF MONTRÉAL, THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND THE CONSEIL DES ARTS DE MONTRÉAL. TOHU CAN ALSO COUNT ON THE INVALUABLE COLLABORATION OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL, A MAJOR PARTNER ENGAGED IN ITS COMMUNITY, AND TOHU’S OFFICIAL CARRIER, AIR FRANCE. TOHU ALSO THANKS THE TD FRIENDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT FOUNDATION, THE FONDS DE SOLIDARITÉ FTQ, THE CAISSE DE DÉPÔT ET PLACEMENT DU QUÉBEC, KEURIG CANADA, CASCADES, UNIVINS ET SPIRITUEUX, BRASSEUR DE MONTRÉAL, ESKA, BCF S.E.N.C.R.L AND ITS MEDIA PARTNERS LA PRESSE AND TÉLÉ-QUÉBEC.
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Source: TOHU
Press relations: Stéphanie Richard, 514-296-0256,
stephanie@projetcaravelle.com