Boost for Les 7 Doigts de la Main

MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC--(Marketwired - Feb. 27, 2015) - Department of Canadian Heritage

The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, today announced $1 million in funding for the creation and production centre of Les 7 Doigts de la Main. He made this announcement on behalf of the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

This funding, provided through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, will be used to acquire and install specialized equipment in the prestigious circus company's new creation and production spaces.

Quick Facts

• Les 7 Doigts de la Main is a contemporary circus collective founded in Montréal in 2002 by seven former Cirque du Soleil artists. Today it has about 100 employees throughout Montréal.
• In 2013, Les 7 Doigts de la Main acquired the building formerly occupied by the Just for Laughs Museum (previously owned by the Société d'habitation et de développement de Montréal) in order to transform it into its new creation and production centre.
• This transformation project will involve major renovations and the purchase and installation of specialized equipment in various work spaces to improve conditions for creation and production and to increase safety for the artists who use this space.
• When completed, the new site will include a creative studio, two practice studios, a dance studio, a fitness room, offices, a storage area, a repair and maintenance workshop for costumes and sets, change rooms and a kitchen.

Quotes

"Our Government is pleased to support a bold and dynamic company like Les 7 Doigts de la Main in carrying out expansion projects that can raise the profile of our talented circus artists."

-The Honorable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

"I am delighted that this jewel of Montréal's cultural industry will now be able to unite its creative, productive and administrative activities under one roof in the Quartier des spectacles, and use this new synergy to continue to develop itself and strengthen its community."

-The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

"We are pleased to see the Government of Canada support our creation and production centre project. With these actions, it is giving its backing to the steps taken by our collective Les 7 doigts de la main, which brings together several artistic directors who made the choice to work together in one company."

-Nassib El-Husseini, Executive Director, Les 7 doigts de la main.

Associated Links

Les 7 Doigts de la Main

Canada Cultural Spaces Fund

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