© CALQ
A consummate multitasker, Alain Mongeau has been a digital artist, computer communications researcher, artistic director, and manager. He headed up the International Symposium on Electronic Art and then cofounded the Society for Arts and Technology, before creating the MUTEK festival, which he has been at the helm of for 20 years, charting a course for the future.
Indeed, Alain Mongeau has always had a jump on the future. He developed new media programming at a time when digital cinema did not exist. He identified the emergence of new aesthetics in changes to creative practices as technology evolved. He collaborated on the development and promotion of female talent in a field that was hard to break into, acting to foster inclusion and equality.
Guided by his curiosity, openness, and bold vision, he instituted partnerships and initiatives that helped drive Québec creativity on the international stage and transformed Montréal into a world capital of digital arts. MUTEK went from being a pioneer to being a standard bearer. Mexico City, Barcelona, Tokyo, Buenos Aires, Dubai, San Francisco, and Santiago have drawn inspiration from his model.
Surfing every new wave of an artistic discipline in constant movement, Alain Mongeau has remained steadfast in his commitment to showcase electronic music and bring its artists together with its fans.
About the Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec
The Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec is a distinction bestowed by CALQ honouring those individuals who have played a prominent role in Québec's artistic development.
The CALQ would like to thanks its partners, the Caisse de la Culture and the newspaper Le Devoir.
© CALQ